Financial Accountant in Cheshire, Chester

Rotheram Carrington Financial Recruitment are pleased to be supporting a very well-established organisation based in the Chester area, who are recruiting for a qualified Financial Accountant, to join a central Finance function supporting a complex, regulated organisation with an annual turnover in the region of £170m. The successful individual will play a key role in safeguarding financial integrity, ensuring statutory compliance, and delivering high-quality external and internal financial reporting. This role is suited to a technically strong accountant who enjoys ownership of core accounting processes and working collaboratively across the organisation to maintain robust financial governance. This role will have two staff reporting in, so some experience of managing a small team would be beneficial.

Job details will include:

• Financial Accounting and Reporting: Take overall responsibility for the organisation’s financial accounting framework, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards and regulatory requirements. Manage the annual financial close process, coordinating inputs across Finance and the wider organisation to deliver accurate and timely outputs. Prepare the statutory Financial Statements and contribute to the Annual Report, acting as the primary liaison with external auditors.
• Regulatory and Statutory Submissions: Lead the preparation and submission of financial returns to external regulators, funding bodies, and statutory authorities. Monitor changes in accounting and regulatory requirements, assessing and implementing their impact on reporting and processes.
• Financial Control and Governance: Maintain and continuously improve balance sheet integrity through structured reconciliations, reviews, and controls. Design, document, and embed effective financial processes and controls, identifying and mitigating financial risk. Support internal and external audit activity, ensuring recommendations are appropriately addressed.
• Collaboration and Improvement: Provide technical accounting advice and guidance to non-finance stakeholders, translating complex financial matters into clear and practical information. Contribute to finance transformation and process improvement initiatives, including system enhancements and efficiency projects. Act as a mentor within the Finance team, sharing expertise and promoting best practice.

Skills, Experience, and Qualifications:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA or ACA).
• Previous experience in a financial accounting or statutory reporting role.
• Demonstrable expertise in preparing statutory accounts and managing year-end processes.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across a diverse organisation.
• High level of accuracy, organisation, and professional judgement.
• Experience within a large, complex, or regulated environment, advantageous but not essential.
• Evidence of leading change or improvement within finance processes.

Salary/Benefits: £48,000 to £50,000 per annum, plus very generous pension scheme, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, hybrid working model, commitment to flexible working practices and employee wellbeing, ongoing professional development and access to training opportunities.