At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead statutory reporting and financial control while managing a team of accountants.
- Company: Join a values-driven organisation in Milton Keynes with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Experience in Higher Education or charity sectors is highly desirable.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in finance operations and influence process improvements.
- Qualifications: Professionally qualified accountant with strong technical financial reporting expertise.
The predicted salary is between 58000 - 64000 € per year.
Butler Rose is partnering with one of our clients in Milton Keynes to recruit a Lead Financial Accountant to join their team. This is a permanent role paying a salary between £58,000 – £64,000 per annum, dependent on experience. Hybrid working of 3 days in the office and 2 from home.
This is a pivotal role leading statutory reporting, technical accounting, financial control and regulatory compliance across the organisation and Group structure. This role requires a candidate with deep technical financial reporting expertise, including substantial experience preparing and reviewing consolidated Group financial statements within complex multi-entity organisations. Experience within the Higher Education and/or charity sectors, alongside strong knowledge of HE SORP and Charity SORP, is highly desirable.
The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting capability with excellent leadership skills and the ability to operate effectively within a complex regulatory environment.
The Role
Reporting to the Head of Finance Operations, the Lead Financial Accountant will take ownership of statutory and regulatory reporting obligations, while leading the Financial Accounting team and supporting continuous improvement across finance operations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the preparation and review of statutory accounts and consolidated Group financial statements
- Managing complex consolidations, intercompany reconciliations and audit working papers
- Ensuring compliance with HE SORP, Charity SORP and all relevant accounting and regulatory standards
- Overseeing Foundation and subsidiary reporting within the Group structure
- Coordinating external audits and acting as the primary liaison with auditors
- Managing month-end close activities and balance sheet reconciliations
- Overseeing VAT, partial exemption, corporation tax and regulatory submissions
- Supporting financial control, process improvement and finance systems development
- Leading and developing a Financial Accounting team of five
About You
You will be a professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience and a strong track record in technical financial accounting. The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Significant experience preparing consolidated Group financial statements and statutory accounts
- Strong technical financial reporting expertise within a complex organisation
- Excellent understanding of consolidations, financial controls and accounting standards
- Knowledge of Higher Education financial reporting and Charity SORP
- Experience coordinating and managing external audits
- Strong VAT and corporation tax compliance knowledge
- Advanced Excel and financial systems capability
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Proven experience leading and developing finance teams
- Experience within Higher Education, not-for-profit organisations or charitable institutions would be highly advantageous, particularly where combined with strong technical accounting depth.
What’s on Offer
Salary of £58,000 – £64,000 Opportunity to work within a collaborative and values-driven environment Exposure to complex technical accounting and Group reporting A key leadership role with the opportunity to influence finance operations and process improvement Professional development and progression opportunities.
Lead Financial Accountant employer: Butler Rose
Butler Rose offers an exceptional working environment in Milton Keynes, where the Lead Financial Accountant will thrive in a collaborative and values-driven culture. With a competitive salary and hybrid working model, employees benefit from professional development opportunities and the chance to influence finance operations within a complex regulatory landscape. Join a team that values leadership and technical expertise, while enjoying the unique advantages of working in the Higher Education and charity sectors.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Financial Accountant
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the finance sector! Attend industry events, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help land that dream job.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching the company and its values. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in areas like statutory reporting and financial control. We recommend practising common interview questions and even doing mock interviews with friends to boost your confidence!
✨Showcase Your Skills
When you get the chance, demonstrate your technical expertise in financial reporting and consolidations. Bring examples of your past work or projects to the table. We want to see how you’ve tackled complex challenges and improved processes in your previous roles!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website for the Lead Financial Accountant role! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who can lead and innovate in finance operations.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Financial Accountant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Financial Accountant role. Highlight your experience with consolidated Group financial statements and any relevant qualifications like ACA or ACCA. We want to see how your background fits perfectly with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Skills:In your application, don’t just list your skills—show us how you've used them! Talk about your experience with statutory reporting, managing audits, and leading finance teams. We love seeing real examples of your expertise in action.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the important bits!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to track your application status. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Butler Rose
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on your technical financial reporting knowledge. Be prepared to discuss your experience with consolidated Group financial statements and statutory accounts, as this role heavily relies on these skills. Familiarise yourself with HE SORP and Charity SORP, as they are crucial for the position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership capabilities, so think of examples where you've successfully led a team or project. Be ready to discuss how you’ve developed finance teams in the past and how you can bring that experience to the table at Butler Rose.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions that dive deep into your understanding of financial controls, consolidations, and compliance. Practise articulating your thought process when managing complex consolidations and intercompany reconciliations, as well as your approach to coordinating external audits.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since excellent stakeholder management is key, prepare to discuss how you've effectively communicated with various stakeholders in previous roles. Think about specific instances where your communication skills made a difference, especially in a regulatory environment.
