At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to transform finance with innovative systems and automation.
- Company: Halfords, a leading retailer in motoring and cycling.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, employee discounts, and personal development support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial processes and drive meaningful change.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with ERP experience and a passion for process improvement.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a focus on wellbeing and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About us
At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience, from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment.
The teams at our Redditch Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly.
If you’re willing to get stuck in, you’ll love it here too. So put yourself at the heart of a dynamic, fast-paced working environment where expertise and focus take people far.
The role
This is a rare opportunity to step into a finance role sitting at the intersection of accounting, systems and automation. Joining a finance function in transition, you’ll work on the core Retail business within a £1.7bn listed group, helping to shape how financial data is extracted, understood and used. This is not a traditional controls role, it’s about turning complex system outputs into clear insight for the wider finance team and senior stakeholders.
As Financial Systems Accountant, you’ll take ownership of key accounting areas including balance sheet reconciliations, P&L analysis, revenue recognition and technical journals, while working closely with SAP and other systems to understand data flows end to end. A core part of the role is identifying where processes, controls and reporting can be improved or automated, fixing issues at source and building scalable solutions using tools such as advanced Excel, Power BI and AI tools such as Copilot. You’ll also support audits, group reporting cycles and play an active role in finance transformation and upcoming ERP implementation.
This role will suit a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong ERP experience who enjoys digging into systems, improving processes, and driving meaningful change. You’ll be confident working autonomously, influencing stakeholders without line management responsibility, and operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment. In return, you’ll have real freedom to shape the role, high exposure to senior leaders, and the chance to leave a lasting mark on how finance operates across the business.
Key responsibilities
- Ownership of balance sheet reconciliations and key P&L lines within a time-pressured reporting environment
- Support of finance transformation initiatives, including ERP implementation and systems change
- Preparation and posting of key technical accounting journals, including revenue recognition under IFRS 15
- Delivery of analytical reviews and deep dives into financial performance, identifying risks and opportunities
- Identification, design and implementation of process improvements, automation opportunities and control enhancements
- Investigation and resolution of system, process and automation issues at source
- Development of clear, repeatable financial outputs and reports for wider finance and senior stakeholders
- Collaboration with internal and external auditors during half-year and year-end cycles
- Ongoing engagement with stakeholders across Finance, Transformation and the wider Retail business
About you
- Proven experience delivering process improvement and automation within a finance or accounting function
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong technical accounting capability
- Demonstrable experience working with ERP systems (e.g. SAP), including data extraction, reporting and analysis
- Strong group consolidation experience particularly around implementing system improvements
- Proven knowledge of using AI tools including Copilot
- Advanced Excel skills, with experience using data and analytics tools such as Power BI
- Strong understanding of revenue recognition and complex accounting treatments
- Ability to integrate data from multiple systems into clear, meaningful outputs
- Confident stakeholder manager, able to explain complex financial and system concepts to non-finance audiences
- Comfortable working autonomously in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Detail-focused, analytical and naturally curious, with a drive to improve how things are done
Reward & benefits
A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a holiday buy and sell scheme and enhanced family leave.
Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.
We offer hybrid working with a blend of working in our Support Centre and from home.
You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.
Not sure you meet all the criteria? We’d encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We’re an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.
At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 2-3 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.
Financial Systems Accountant in Redditch employer: Halfords
Contact Detail:
Halfords Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Systems Accountant in Redditch
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Halfords on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Financial Systems Accountant role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your ERP knowledge, especially SAP. Be ready to discuss how you've improved processes in past roles and how you can bring that expertise to Halfords.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of how you've turned complex data into clear insights. This will resonate well with the team at Halfords who value clarity in financial reporting.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the Halfords family.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Systems Accountant in Redditch
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Financial Systems Accountant role. Highlight your experience with ERP systems, technical accounting, and any process improvements you've implemented. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about finance and how you can contribute to our mission at Halfords. Be sure to mention specific examples of your past achievements that relate to the job.
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Since this role involves turning complex data into clear insights, make sure to showcase your analytical abilities. Include examples of how you've used tools like Excel or Power BI to drive meaningful change in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Halfords
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Financial Systems Accountant, you'll need to be comfortable with financial data. Brush up on your balance sheet reconciliations and P&L analysis. Be ready to discuss how you've used these skills in past roles, especially in relation to ERP systems like SAP.
✨Showcase Your Process Improvement Skills
Halfords is looking for someone who can identify and implement process improvements. Prepare examples of how you've streamlined processes or automated tasks in previous positions. Highlight any specific tools you used, such as advanced Excel or Power BI.
✨Understand the Business Context
Familiarise yourself with Halfords' mission and how the finance function supports it. Be prepared to discuss how your role as a Financial Systems Accountant can contribute to their goals of customer-driven innovation and service experience.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
You'll need to influence stakeholders without direct authority. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated complex financial concepts to non-finance audiences. This will show your ability to collaborate effectively across teams.