Group Financial Accountant in Bradford

I’m working with a large international professional services organisation to recruit a Group Financial Accountant to join its established finance team in Leeds on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This is a group-level role with an international focus, combining financial control, balance sheet responsibility, payroll accounting and stakeholder management. You’ll also lead a team of five accountants, so it would suit someone who enjoys taking ownership while still remaining hands-on with the numbers.

Payroll accounting is a particularly important part of the role. You’ll be responsible for monthly payroll postings and balance sheets, analysing payroll and headcount costs against budget and communicating the key variances and insights to senior stakeholders.

The role

• Take ownership of monthly payroll postings into the management accounts
• Work closely with the payroll team to ensure costs are correctly allocated across countries and business areas
• Analyse monthly payroll and headcount costs, identifying and explaining key variances against budget
• Present monthly reporting and analysis to senior stakeholders and other teams across the business
• Take responsibility for payroll and accounts payable balance sheets
• Coordinate the monthly balance sheet process, collating information from across the team and ensuring files are prepared to a high standard for review
• Prepare quarterly consolidated balance sheet information for the treasury team
• Act as a key point of contact for international finance teams
• Support the UK external audit, particularly in relation to payroll
• Take ownership of statutory reporting relating to payment practices and performance
• Lead and support a team of five accountants
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls and efficiency
• Support wider Group Finance projects as required

What we're looking for

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification, although strong QBE candidates will also be considered
• Strong financial accounting and financial control experience
• Good technical accounting knowledge, including FRS 102
• Experience of balance sheet ownership and reconciliations
• Payroll accounting experience, particularly payroll postings, reconciliations and analysis
• Experience analysing payroll/headcount costs and explaining variances
• Previous experience managing or leading a finance team
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence communicating financial information to senior colleagues
• Experience working across multiple entities, business areas or locations
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing deadlines
• Previous experience within an LLP or law firm would be particularly attractive, as would experience within an international or group finance environment. However, candidates from other professional services or larger, complex organisations will also be considered.
• For candidates who are qualified by experience rather than professionally qualified, strong hands-on payroll accounting experience will be particularly important.

What's on offer?

This is an opportunity to join a sizeable international organisation in a Group Finance position offering exposure across financial control, payroll, reporting, audit and international finance. The role is a 12-month fixed-term contract and offers hybrid working, with three days per week in the Leeds office. Salary is up to approximately £45,000, depending on experience, plus benefits.

If you’re a Financial Accountant, Group Accountant or Finance Manager who enjoys financial control but also likes analysing the numbers and working with people across a business, I’d be very interested in speaking with you.