Purpose of the Role:
To provide autonomous senior accounting, statutory, tax-credit, control and project support across Opera North and its affiliated entities. The role will retain responsibility for theatre and orchestra tax-credit work and take on defined additional responsibilities for statutory accounts, audit, complex reconciliations, intercompany accounting, financial controls and finance projects. The role has no line-management responsibility but works closely with the Head of Finance and finance staff to deliver agreed outcomes.
Key Accountabilities:
- Prepare theatre and orchestra tax-credit calculations, forecasts, supporting evidence and claims information, liaising with production teams, advisers and other stakeholders.
- Monitor relevant tax-relief developments and maintain processes that capture qualifying expenditure throughout the year.
- Prepare draft statutory accounts and supporting schedules and act as a key day-to-day contact for the external audit.
- Complete or review agreed balance-sheet and control-account reconciliations, complex journals and year-end adjustments.
- Support the monthly and year-end close through agreed technical tasks.
- Lead agreed elements of the financial relationship with the Howard Assembly Room trading company, including intercompany charging, reconciliations, settlements and balance confirmation.
- Support VAT, Gift Aid, corporation tax and other compliance activities as allocated by the Director of Finance.
- Be the lead contact with Access (our finance software) both in terms of issues management and maximising it’s capabilities.
- Support the operational application of procurement-policy limits and evidence requirements, including review of exceptions and improvement of the audit trail.
- Lead or support defined finance, costing, systems and wider organisational projects.
- Develop and document proportionate controls, reconciliations, procedures and working papers.
- Provide technical advice and support to the Head of Finance and Director of Finance.
- Work with the Head of Finance to agree the timing and resource requirements of work involving members of the Finance Team.
- Identify emerging accounting, control, compliance or delivery risks and raise them promptly with the Director of Finance.
- To assist with other work as required, which may include, but is not limited to:
o Gender pay gap data preparation and reporting.
o Improvement of financial processes to ensure efficiency.
Person Specification:
Qualifications:
- Full professional accounting qualification, for example ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or equivalent experience appropriate to the role.
Experience/ Skills Required:
- Strong experience of preparing statutory accounts, liaising with auditors, balance-sheet control and period-end accounting.
- Ability to deliver complex technical accounting work to competing deadlines.
- Strong spreadsheet and financial-systems skills.
- Experience of tax reliefs and charity accounting, multi-entity accounting or project work is desirable.
- Strong collaborative and influencing skills, including the ability to lead on specific tasks.
- Experience of using Access is desirable.
- Knowledge of the SORP accounting rules for charities is desirable.
Terms & Conditions:
Contract type: Permanent, part time OR full time considered (minimum of 28 hours per week)
Salary: £48,000 – £50,000 FTE
Hours of work: 28-35 hours per week (part-time or full-time considered)
Holiday entitlement: 33 days inclusive of 8 statutory holidays, per annum (pro rata)
Pension: Opera North will automatically enrol you into the company pension scheme upon appointment and after 3 months’ service will contribute equivalent to 5.5% of your basic pay, should you meet the current legislative criteria. You will be required to make a personal contribution of 2.5% of your basic pay. We reserve the right to make future changes to our pension arrangements.
Equity, diversity and inclusion: We promote equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and make recruitment decisions by matching our needs with the skills and experience of the candidate. As we work to address underrepresentation in our workforce, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants from the global majority or those with other protected characteristics.
The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK or be ready to obtain it.
General responsibilities of everyone who works for us:
- Represent the company values and purpose to create extraordinary experiences everyday
- Work collaboratively and co-operatively with all team members and take an active part in team meetings and discussions
- Be an ambassador for Opera North and follow our policies and procedures
- Play your part in ensuring that everyone who comes through our door is welcomed and treated with respect
How to apply: To apply for this role, please send a CV via the Employment Hero website.
If you need any help completing your application including any adjustments to the application process, and if you are applying under the Disability Confident Committed scheme please contact appointments@operanorth.co.uk to make us aware.
Closing Date: 8th November 2026
Good luck with your application and we look forward to hearing from you.
Senior Financial Accountant in Leeds employer: Opera North
At Opera North, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture. As the Head of Stage, you will not only lead a talented team in delivering outstanding performances but also benefit from generous holiday entitlement, a supportive pension scheme, and ongoing professional development opportunities. Located in Leeds, you will be at the heart of a vibrant creative community, where your contributions will directly impact the success of our productions and the growth of the arts sector.
