Group Financial Reporting Accountant

Overview

PURPOSE & IMPACT: Working in the Group Financial Reporting Team, this is a key role involving the production of Group external financial reporting. In doing so, financial control compliance must be maintained, whilst striving for process and procedure improvement. The candidate should possess excellent skills in spreadsheet, word processing, and finance software, with strong knowledge of International Accounting Standards. They bring solid experience in financial accounting, including experience in month end close activities. Additionally, they have proven expertise in people management, process development, and implementation. Holding a bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field, and/or a relevant professional certification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA).

Responsibilities

• This role sits in the Group Financial Reporting Team, which is responsible for the production of monthly reporting deliverables for several headquarter entities, UK statutory accounts for those entities, as well as the consolidated quarterly Group Financial Statements under IFRS.
• The team is in the process of replacing its existing SAP BPC consolidation tool with S/4 HANA’s Group Consolidation tool with go-live expected in January 2027.
• At the same time, the Group is transitioning to IFRS 18, taking effect January 1, 2027.
• This position supports the consolidation of the Group’s external financial reporting through overseeing key areas of technical accounting, including responsibility for the Group’s provisions, exceptional items, cash flow reporting, statutory reporting for head office entities (FRS 101) and ONS reporting, in addition to other areas of technical expertise.
• Furthermore, the position manages the team’s audit requests, ensuring requests are triaged and delivered on time.
• The position will support the wider team in month end, quarter end and statutory filing activities.
• Accountable for the accuracy and completeness of the Group’s financial Reporting on provisions, exceptional items spend and the cash flow statement.
• This requires establishing working practices with colleagues, reviewing journals, reviewing submissions from component entities, preparing consolidated reports and preparing technical accounting papers, ending in the preparation of disclosures in financial statements.
• There will at times be a need to get hands-on with journal preparation.
• Supporting Group Consolidation.
• Supporting members of the shared finance centre, tax and treasury teams.
• Completion of financial controls in accordance with the controls framework as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).
• Preparation of financial statement disclosures (e.g. cash flow statement).
• Assistance with the preparation of other Group IFRS quarterly and annual financial reporting deliverables, including preparing consolidation journals, financial disclosures and technical accounting papers.
• Assistance with electronic tagging of quarterly and annual financial statements in WDESK (Workiva platform).
• Contributing updates to guidance and the Group Accounting Policy Manual.
• Supporting any projects impacting financial reporting. Previous examples include acquisition accounting, refinancing, share repurchase and restructuring activities. Expected future activities will include a systems migration to S/4 HANA.
• Involvement in the preparation of statutory accounts under FRS 101 as well as supporting overseas teams.
• Liaison with internal and external auditors.
• Overseeing audit fee accruals.
• Participation in finance and accounting projects.
• Completion of ONS reporting.
• Any other ad-hoc tasks required to meet the needs of the Financial Reporting Group and its interaction with the wider audience of stakeholders, e.g. Auditors, Treasury, Financial Planning and Analysis, Tax, legal, Companies House, ONS, review of subsidiary accounts.

Qualifications

• Graduate Audit experience.
• Qualified or experienced financial accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA).
• 1-4 years PQE experience.