Accounting and Control - Assistant Vice President - Global Corporate and Investment Banking Group...

Our client is a global corporate and investment banking group who have been well-managed over the last 15 years, achieving steady growth while offering a stable environment for its employees. Their Finance function is now recruiting for a fully-qualified, Finalist or part-qualified (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) accounting professional at AVP level to join its Expenses Reporting team, part of the Management Reporting & Analytics division. They are ideally looking for a candidate from the banking or financial services sector. The role would also offer a positive working environment (with hybrid working), excellent career development opportunities, along with a friendly and professional team.

Profile Criteria:

1. 1. Part-Qualified, Finalist or Fully-Qualified (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with a min. of 4-5 years of experience in accounting, control and reporting roles with a global banking business or financial services Plc (doesn’t have to come from banking, although it would be nice to have).
   2. Expenses accounting and reporting experience.
   3. Strong skills around data, financial and management accounting, financial control and finance process improvement and automation.
   4. Strong stakeholder management experience and excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• • Collaborate with internal and external auditors, regulators and Head Office stakeholders to strengthen governance, controls and reporting accuracy, and aid their understanding of Finance controls, processes and reporting.
  • Promote cultural cross collaboration and challenge silos within the bank with regards to colleagues in other geographies or locations, to bridge the gap between the Head Office and London business for enhancement of communication.
  • Support management with analysis of monthly expenses, headcount and fixed asset reporting, including commentary and insights for decision-making.
  • Identify issues, propose solutions, and implement process improvements, including automation initiatives and upgrades to enhance efficiency of BAU activities at a local level.
  • Partner with front and non-front office departments (Finance & Control, IT, HR, etc.) to provide financial accounting support, advice and clear communication of expense results.
  • Draft, review and update policies and procedures, embedding strong controls to ensure completeness and accuracy of financial statements.
  • Manage competing priorities and tight deadlines effectively, maintaining strong working relationships to meet ad-hoc needs of stakeholders and yet maintain focus on the timely delivery of BAU tasks.
  • Provide guidance, training and coaching to junior staff to support professional development and strengthen team capability.
  • Perform self-attestation for a series of specified general ledger accounts, as well as justify and explain balances in order to provide assurance as to the contents of the accounts.
  • Control entries across the Oracle general ledger, including monthly accrual entries and pass manual journal adjustments/ADIs as required.
  • Maintenance and reconciliation of the London business’ fixed asset registers, ensuring all bookings are compliant as per the fixed assets policy, and preparation of fixed asset notes within the financial statements.
  • Support the analysis of monthly expenses and headcount for management including production of commentary and tables.
  • Implement controls to reinforce and enhance the governance and the control environment.

Skills and Experience Required / Useful:

• • Qualified, Finalist or Part-Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
  • 4-5+ years’ experience in Finance and Accounting, with strong exposure to financial and management reporting within preferably in a Banking environment.
  • Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, large dataset manipulation); Power BI/Power Query knowledge desirable.
  • Experience with reporting systems, general ledger and sub-ledger processes (system upgrades/migrations a plus).
  • Strong technical knowledge across period-end close, reconciliations, accruals, prepayments, fixed assets and break investigations.
  • Proven ability to analyse financial data, identify issues and deliver effective solutions.
  • Excellent communication, organisation and stakeholder management skills.
  • Experience working with internal/external auditors and supporting statutory/reporting requirements.
  • Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines.
  • Collaborative team player with the flexibility to adapt to evolving business needs, and promote growth as a subject expert.
  • Prior experience contributing to process improvements, controls and automation initiatives preferred.