Financial Accountant

We are recruiting a qualified Financial Accountant for a well-established, privately owned organisation with several trading and investment entities. It is a varied business with a small finance team, so the role offers far more breadth and ownership than you might find in a larger, more structured environment.

You will take responsibility for the quality of the underlying accounts, making sure month-end is completed properly, balance sheets are reconciled and the financial information produced by the team is accurate and dependable.

There is also plenty to improve. The business is reviewing its finance systems, strengthening its controls and looking at how key processes can be made clearer and more consistent. You will play an important part in that work, alongside managing the regular accounting cycle.

The role

Working closely with the senior finance lead, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the month-end close across several legal entities
• Preparing journals, accruals, prepayments and fixed asset entries
• Producing and reviewing monthly management accounts
• Completing detailed balance sheet reconciliations and resolving discrepancies
• Preparing VAT returns and maintaining accurate supporting records
• Supporting the production of statutory accounts and year-end schedules
• Coordinating with external accountants, auditors and professional advisers
• Preparing short-term cash-flow information and monitoring working capital
• Maintaining appropriate controls around banking, payments and user access
• Overseeing payroll information and reconciliations in conjunction with an external provider
• Supporting the transactional finance workload where necessary
• Improving the quality and consistency of finance procedures
• Helping with the selection, implementation and testing of new finance technology
• Reducing reliance on individuals by documenting important processes properly

What we're looking for

You will be an ACA, ACCA or CIMA-qualified accountant with strong financial accounting experience and a willingness to stay close to the detail.

This position should suit somebody who enjoys understanding how the numbers have been put together, rather than simply accepting the final report. You will be comfortable investigating differences, challenging incomplete information and following an issue through until it has been resolved.

You are likely to have:

• Strong month-end and financial accounting experience
• A good understanding of balance sheet control and reconciliations
• Experience preparing management accounts
• Knowledge of VAT, cash flow, payroll accounting and year-end requirements
• Experience working across several companies, cost centres or business areas
• Confidence using Excel and accounting software
• The ability to organise your own workload and meet competing deadlines
• A practical approach to improving systems and processes
• Strong attention to detail without losing sight of wider commercial priorities
• The confidence to work with both finance and non-finance colleagues

Experience gained within a privately owned, owner-managed or multi-entity organisation would be useful, although the quality of your accounting experience and your approach to the role will be more important than a particular sector background.

Previous involvement in a finance-system change or integration project would also be helpful.

The environment

This is a down-to-earth business where people are trusted to take responsibility. The finance team is relatively lean, so you will need to be comfortable switching between detailed accounting work, resolving day-to-day issues and contributing to longer-term improvements.

The role is predominantly office-based because it works closely with both the finance team and the wider organisation. There is some flexibility, but it will not suit somebody looking for a mainly remote position.

Why consider it?

The attraction is the level of ownership.

You will have responsibility for the accounting cycle, direct exposure to senior decision-makers and the opportunity to improve how the finance function operates. The business has enough complexity to keep the role interesting, but the team is small enough for your contribution to be noticed.

It could be a particularly good move for somebody who wants:

• A broader role than a conventional month-end position
• Genuine responsibility across several entities
• Exposure to systems and process improvement
• A close working relationship with senior management
• The opportunity to leave the finance function in a stronger position

If you are a qualified accountant who enjoys hands-on financial control, solving problems and improving the way things are done, please apply or contact Jason Mitchell at Abbeygate Search for a confidential discussion.