Senior Financial Accountant

Operating in 120 countries with 42,000 employees and 70 nationalities, Shiseido offers a unique selection of Skincare, Makeup and Fragrance brands with a projected turnover over £7.0bn in 2022. Founded in 1872 in Japan, Shiseido Group is within the Top 5 leading cosmetics companies in the world and aims to inspire a life of beauty and culture.

Through our heritage, Shiseido constantly creates high-quality, safe and innovative cosmetics and develops brands deeply loved by people from all over the world, in line with our mission: Beauty Innovations for a Better World.

This position sits within the Financial Reporting team and plays a central part in delivering accurate accounting, compliance, and reporting for the UK market. The team is responsible for managing all month-end close activities, external reporting, statutory compliance as well as reporting submissions to both the European HQ and ultimately Japan HQ.

Reporting to the Senior Finance Manager, the role offers strong career development within a fast-paced retail FMCG environment. The role covers key month-end processes, external reporting obligations, audit coordination, and local tax filings. There is also scope to drive improvements in identifying areas to standardise, streamline, and enhance existing reporting processes across the wider finance group.

As a Senior Financial Accountant, every day will be diverse. This role will:

• Audit and External Reporting
  • Support the Senior Finance Manager with the year-end and quarterly close activities, and the coordination of the audit process with KPMG.
  • Liaise with external auditors throughout the audit cycle to ensure timely delivery of audit requests and adherence to agreed timelines.
  • Coordinate the preparation of the annual statutory financial statements in accordance with UK reporting standards.
  • Monitor updates to statutory requirements and update internal processes to maintain compliance.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with external accounting partners to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
  • Support internal audit processes and maintain J‑SOX reporting requirements.
• Tax Compliance
  • Support the corporation tax compliance in partnership with external advisors, including transfer pricing and capital allowances.
  • Prepare and submit VAT returns and manage other local compliance requirements, including employment taxes, environmental reporting, plastic packaging tax, and statistical filings.
  • Maintain awareness of regulatory changes and assess areas of potential impact.
• Strengthen the Control Environment
  • Drive robust governance and control environment by defining accounting policies, risk controls, and compliance processes.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of internal controls and system workflows across the end-to-end finance processes to support retail business functions.
  • Safeguard data integrity by ensuring adherence to group accounting policies and J‑SOX control and reporting requirements.
• Ensure the Integrity of Month-End Reporting
  • Work as part of the Financial Reporting team to deliver the month-end close process across all UK & Ireland Shiseido Group brands.
  • Ownership of centralised UK retail finance activities including accounting for leases, capital expenditure, and boutique management.
  • Prepare journal entries and complete supporting balance sheet reconciliations across key retail business areas.
  • Prepare monthly business analysis on management account movements and prepare the quarterly reporting pack.
  • Support other business advisory activities and ad hoc analysis for the Financial Reporting and Commercial Finance teams.
• Team Development & Improvement
  • Drive ongoing improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance processes, strengthen controls, and optimise reporting across the finance function.
  • Contribute to ad-hoc analysis and project work for both the Financial Reporting and Commercial Finance teams.
  • Assist senior members of the Financial Reporting team in maintaining a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement.
  • Mentor junior finance team members to support their development and help foster a collaborative, high-performing finance team.

We value diversity and creativity in all that we do. Your suitability will come through a range of experiences and backgrounds. Specifically, we encourage experiences from the below:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) with two years post‑qualification experience.
• Experience in a public accounting firm or audit environment is preferred.
• Experience coordinating both external and internal audits.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and governance frameworks.
• Working knowledge of UK indirect and direct tax regimes, with experience managing relationships with HMRC.
• High level of computer literacy including advanced Excel skills and experience with SAP S/4 and Power BI.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Technical Excellence in Finance & Reporting - Demonstrates strong command of accounting standards, month-end processes, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Control & Governance Mindset - Builds and maintains a robust control environment, strengthening risk management, data integrity, and compliance frameworks.
• Tax Knowledge and Regulatory Awareness - Applies sound understanding of UK tax regimes and proactively monitors regulatory changes to anticipate business impact.
• Analytical & Problem Solving Skills – Interprets complex financial data, identifies issues quickly, and develops practical solutions.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement – Works effectively with cross-functional teams, external advisors, and auditors to drive alignment and shared outcomes.
• Continuous Improvement Orientation – Seeks opportunities to streamline processes, enhance systems, and elevate the efficiency of the finance function.
• Systems & Digital Capability – Leverages digital tools to improve reporting accuracy, generate insights, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Team Development & Coaching – Supports the growth of junior team members and contributes to a positive working culture.

BENEFITS YOU’LL LOVE

• Generous product allocation & discount to spend on our gorgeous products!
• Supporting the delicate work/life balance with enhanced time off through 26 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday day off + time off for when you get married or move house PLUS enhanced parental allowance for those big life moments and the chance to buy more through our holiday buy scheme.
• Plan for your future with our 8% matching pension scheme (up to) and life Assurance up to x4 your salary.
• We operate an annual bonus scheme, based on personal development plans and business performance.
• Flexible Fridays, so you can focus on what is important to you.
• Flexible & hybrid work patterns to suit all backgrounds with 60% of your time being in the office.
• Wellbeing programmes including mental health first aiders, free counselling, access to digital GP’s and exclusive retail discounts.
• Monthly access to L&D opportunities to help your continuous development.

INCLUSION HERO

Together, we can build a vibrant and dynamic team that reflects the diverse world we serve. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that a diverse workforce enhances our creativity, innovation, and overall success.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or religion and are proud to promote a culture which supports and appreciates people from all backgrounds. We are always open to flexible working, part-time arrangements and any adjustments which you might need to get the best experience whilst at work.

We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities and ensuring that our hiring practices reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We are proud to be recognised as a disability confident employer and have a number of internal employee forums which promote advocacy for our teams. If you need any support or adjustments during your application, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to support you.

OUR HIRING PROCESS

Once you have applied for the role, our in-house recruitment team will screen your CV. We will do our best to get back to all candidates who apply, however in some cases it may not be possible due to the high volume of applications. If you have not heard back from us within 30 days of your application, unfortunately this may mean you have not been successful on this occasion.

If your CV is shortlisted, then you will be contacted by our recruitment team. They will arrange a pre-screening call, to explore your motivation, suitability and role expectations. After the pre-screen, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. Successful applicants will be invited to at least 1 interview. Preferably, we would like to meet you in person and give you the opportunity to test your commute as well as see your potential place of work! In some cases, we may invite you to an assessment centre or to present your ideas in the form of a business presentation.

Please note: If you do not have the right to work in the UK and would require sponsorship for this role then you must ensure you meet UKVI requirements for the position which may include having a degree level qualification. Please reach out if you need further information on this and whether we offer sponsorship.