Senior Group Derivative Accountant

Reporting to the Projects and Financial Governance Manager (PFGM), the role of the Project and Financial Governance Senior Accountant (PFGSA) is a critical role in Control. It is a varied role with different challenges, providing good exposure to all of SP’s key financial reporting processes and liaising with a wide range of stakeholders across the group.

SP are playing a leading role in the delivery of a clean, low-carbon system for the UK, currently investing £18 million every working day between 2024 and 2028 to help create a better future, quicker. SP’s focus on investment in renewable energy and the electricity grid, alongside measures to support the electrification of heat and transport, align with the crucial pillars in achieving the UK Government’s climate targets and energy security goals.

The group is expected to continue to enter complex hedging instruments to mitigate any FX, commodity, interest or inflation exposures associated with these large capital expenditure projects. As suppliers look to pass on price risk there will also be an increasing number of embedded derivatives within purchase contracts. The post‐holder’s main purpose is to deliver an end‐to‐end service—from coordinating with the relevant business and business control teams to determine the appropriate technical accounting treatment for derivatives at inception, through to ensuring these derivatives are accurately reflected in the financial results of both the entity and the wider IBE Group as they are executed and subsequently closed out. They will also have responsibility for the preparation of both entity and consolidated disclosures for Iberdrola reporting and statutory accounts.

The PFGSA will also have responsibility for the implementation of derivative related accounting policy changes within the SP Group and ad-hoc projects within the SP Group. As a member of the Group Control team, they will support the Group Financial Controller and the PFGM as required, driving delivery of the Group Control Team objectives. The PFGSA will support other processes within the Group Reporting team as and when required.

They will actively encourage a positive team environment within their own team, the wider Control team and the Business areas – building relationships and fostering good ways of working across all areas such that a co-operative approach is taken to all issues, projects and initiatives.

• Ensure that new derivative related accounting policies or processes are implemented into ScottishPower, including preparation of comprehensive process notes and risk documents by the relevant SP business and work with the Internal Assurance team to ensure the control environment associated with these changes is fit for purpose.
• Maintain technical knowledge to ensure that external reporting information complies with relevant accounting standards and legal practice. Providing IFRS technical support to the business units advising on complex accounting issues associated with derivatives. This will involve liaison with IBE Control team, Business control teams, the Control senior leadership team, Treasury and Senior Leaders within the IBE and UK businesses.
• Contribute to a positive team environment within own team.
• Continually challenge current business processes to seek and deliver on-going efficiencies.
• Responsible for preparing the derivative financial results of ScottishPower for key IBE financial cycles (actuals, reported, rev and budget). The individual will be responsible for the integrity, completeness and accuracy of the results all of which must be produced within the required timelines.
• Responsibility for the preparation of the year end Iberdrola Reporting Pack of SP in line with IBE Control requirements and timelines for the areas associated with derivative financial instruments. This also includes meeting the additional disclosure requirements specified by IBE at 30 June and 30 September.
• Responsibility for preparing all financial instrument disclosures for the SP Group’s consolidated financial statements and for subsidiaries’ statutory and regulatory accounts, ensuring full compliance with relevant company law and applicable accounting standards.
• Responsible for the implementation of new or complex derivative transactions or accounting policy changes within financial reporting. This includes IBE Reporting, SP Reporting and the related subsidiary accounts.
• Responsibility for ensuring a strong control environment ensuring that all processes are delivered comply with the Group Financial Governance Procedure.
• Support the external auditor in all of the above processes assisting in the successful resolution of any audit issues identified.
• Updating processes and procedures documents clearly and concisely and maintaining them thereafter.
• Supporting in other ad-hoc projects as and when required.

Qualified Accountant with PQE of at least one year and a strong current technical and business knowledge. High level of commercial awareness with a good understanding of SP markets and the relationships across the SP group. Pro-active person who anticipates issues and problems and puts in place effective strategies to manage these. Confidence, ability and presence to constructively challenge at all levels. Strong self-performance management and delivery focus with the ability to balance conflicting requirements. Ability to plan, organise and prioritise workload. Strong spreadsheet skills. Attention to detail when completing all tasks. Strong written and verbal communication skills.

With our pension scheme, at ScottishPower, we believe it’s the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family’s wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action – our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world – today and tomorrow. Dental Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you’ll fit right in.