Senior Accountant - Private Equity in Southampton

You will deliver a comprehensive first-class accounting service to a portfolio of private equity structures in line with the defined business activities. You will help to develop an internal Centre of Excellence (CoE) within the Southampton Gen II team, and assist with the supervision, management and development of a team of accountants.

What you’ll be doing:

• Support the Manager in order to deliver a first-class professional service to clients, both internal and external.
• Preparation and review of quarterly management accounts.
• Review of annual accounts and preparation of complex sets of annual accounts, for a wide range of client structures to UK GAAP, US GAAP or IFRS standards.
• Manage the quarterly reporting and annual reporting cycles for a portfolio of clients, including a range of investor reporting.
• Manage the timely and accurate production of monthly, quarterly and annual VAT returns.
• Supervise and assist with the management of the workflow of junior team members, and delegate tasks to them.
• Plan and prioritise own and team workflow.
• Assist with the development/enhancement of team specific procedures.
• Assist with and if appropriate conduct appraisals for direct reporting team members.
• Support the Manager with the client billing process for the team.
• Liaison with auditors to ensure smooth audit process if required.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of client specific accounting procedures.
• Liaise with external contacts to obtain and provide required information.
• Attend client meetings in respect of accounting matters as required.
• Assist the Manager in analysing clients’ key performance indicators for submission with the management accounts.
• Assist with and contribute to ad hoc projects as required.

The ideal background for this role:

• Qualifications: Recognised professional accounting qualification (ACCA / ACA).
• Experience: A minimum of 2 years’ post qualification experience in a financial services environment would be preferred. Direct experience of producing financial statements for a variety of fund types within various jurisdictions. Experience in producing financial statements to IFRS, UK GAAP, Lux GAAP or US GAAP. Experience in developing and coaching of juniors. Experience of preparation of VAT returns would be preferred. Fund accounting experience including consolidation and experience of dealing with audit requirements would be preferred. Experience in a financial services environment, ideally in fund administration would be preferred.
• Knowledge & Skills: Exceptional understanding and knowledge of current industry and accounting legislation, regulation and working practices. Sound knowledge of private equity structures and accounting requirements through fund lifecycle would be preferred. Working knowledge of Caseware/Value Financials, FIS Investran, Yardi would be preferred. Decision making with conflicting and demanding deadlines. Progressive and takes responsibility for self-development and that of others.

Role Location/Hybrid Schedule: This role is based in the Southampton office. Although the nature of most of the roles within Gen II cannot be classed as totally flexible, there is scope in some cases for a form of Agile Working. The different ways in which Agile Working can be undertaken is dependent on the demands and needs of the business, the office space available and the individual’s preferences and circumstances.