Senior Group Financial Accountant

Your Company: NET Recruit are delighted to be partnering with a highly regarded and purpose-driven organisation who are seeking an experienced Senior Group Financial Accountant to join their Group Finance function in a full-time, permanent capacity. This organisation has built a strong reputation for financial excellence, governance and operational integrity, managing a complex group structure while delivering high-quality services across multiple business areas. As they continue to evolve and strengthen their finance function, they are seeking a technically accomplished accounting professional to lead external financial reporting, regulatory compliance and statutory accounting activities.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal leadership role within Group Finance, overseeing a team of finance professionals while acting as the technical accounting expert for the organisation. This is an excellent opportunity to join a collaborative and forward-thinking finance team where you will have significant exposure to senior stakeholders, external auditors and strategic business initiatives.

Your Roles and Responsibilities:

• Leading the preparation and review of statutory accounts for multiple group entities, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards and reporting deadlines.
• Supporting the production of consolidated statutory and management accounts across the wider group structure.
• Managing the external audit process, coordinating requests across the finance function and acting as the primary contact for external auditors.
• Taking ownership of regulatory financial reporting, ensuring all submissions are completed accurately and within statutory deadlines.
• Preparing and submitting consolidated and entity VAT returns while managing relationships with HMRC and external VAT advisors.
• Liaising with external corporation tax advisers to ensure timely completion of annual tax computations and associated reporting requirements.
• Delivering additional external reporting obligations, including statutory surveys and regulatory returns.
• Providing expert technical accounting guidance across the organisation, supporting compliance with evolving accounting standards and financial reporting requirements.
• Developing and delivering technical training to finance colleagues, promoting consistent application of accounting policies across the business.
• Leading, mentoring and developing a team of Financial Accountants and Assistant Financial Accountants through coaching, performance management and ongoing professional development.
• Identifying opportunities to improve financial reporting processes, controls and efficiencies across the finance function.
• Deputising for the Head of Financial Reporting and Analysis when required, supporting wider strategic finance initiatives.

What You Will Need to Apply:

The ideal candidate for this role will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience gained within a technical financial accounting or group reporting environment. Applicants should possess extensive experience preparing statutory accounts, consolidated financial statements and regulatory reporting, alongside a thorough understanding of current accounting standards, including FRS102. Previous experience managing external audits and acting as the key liaison for auditors will be essential.

Candidates should demonstrate strong technical expertise across financial reporting, VAT and corporation tax, with previous experience preparing VAT returns and managing relationships with external tax advisers. Knowledge of fixed asset accounting, financial instruments, joint ventures and defined benefit pension accounting would be highly advantageous.

Previous people management experience will be essential, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop finance professionals while ensuring high-quality outputs are consistently delivered to demanding deadlines. The successful individual will possess exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, together with outstanding communication skills and the confidence to engage effectively with senior stakeholders, professional advisers and colleagues across the wider business. They will demonstrate excellent attention to detail, advanced Microsoft Excel skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities within a complex finance environment.

What You Will Get in Return:

For the successful candidate, a highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package will be offered, reflective of experience and expertise. This role presents an outstanding opportunity to join a well-established organisation where technical excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement are highly valued. The successful candidate will benefit from exposure to complex group reporting, strategic finance projects and senior leadership, while enjoying genuine opportunities for professional development and long-term career progression within a supportive and forward-thinking finance function.

To express interest in this role and have a confidential chat, please reach out to: Christina Smith – Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist.