Financial Accountant in Bicester

Location: Hybrid (Upper-Heyford office three days per week)

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Direct Reports: Bookkeeping Team

About FAT Karting League

FAT Karting League is disrupting the pathway from karting to F1, and you’ll be part of the team turning a transformative idea into a worldwide movement. FAT Karting League has taken the UK & US by storm with our electric karting series, a community‑driven sports brand breaking down barriers to entry, removing 95% of the traditional costs, and redefining racing culture for a new generation. With plans to expand to 50+ markets in the next five years, we’re moving fast and looking for a hands‑on Group Accountant who shares our ambition and wants to grow with the business.

Role Summary

This isn’t a traditional accounting role. Finance at FAT Karting League is being built as a data and automation‑first engine — scalable, global, and designed for high volume and high speed. This role is ideal for a newly qualified or part‑qualified accountant who wants broad exposure to group accounting in a fast‑scaling environment. As Financial Accountant, you will be hands‑on in the month‑end process, preparing entity financials, reviewing bookkeeping outputs, and helping to build the operational accounting foundations for a multi‑entity global group. You’ll be closely involved in the detail, while also developing skills in process improvement, controls, accuracy, and automation. This role blends strong technical accounting fundamentals with systems thinking — perfect for someone early in their post‑qualification career who wants to develop into a senior finance role over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Month‑End Close & Reporting: Prepare month‑end journals (accruals, prepayments, deferred revenue, payroll, intercompany). Produce draft entity‑level management accounts across multiple UK and US entities. Own and maintain all balance sheet reconciliations with full supporting schedules. Ensure month‑end tasks follow the close timetable and internal control framework. Support the Head of Finance with group consolidation schedules and elimination support.
• Revenue, Cost & Operational Accounting: Perform revenue recognition checks across ticketing, events, POS and online sales channels. Reconcile high‑volume, data‑led sales feeds (Stripe, ticketing platforms, POS systems). Maintain deferred revenue, refund, discount and promotional schedules. Validate event‑related costs and prepare initial event margin reporting.
• Audit & Tax Compliance: Prepare audit‑ready working papers and PBC schedules for UK and US entities. Support statutory accounting and corporation tax filings under guidance from senior finance leaders and advisors. Assist with LLC/partnership accounting (capital accounts, allocations, K‑1 support). Maintain fixed asset registers, lease schedules, and associated technical accounting files.
• Financial Processes & Efficiency: Review and oversee transactional processing performed by the bookkeeping team and offshore resources. Provide guidance and day‑to‑day support to the bookkeeping team, with light people‑management responsibility. Identify areas for automation and workflow redesign to eliminate manual work. Work with the CFO, Head of Finance and Software Engineers to help design and improve scalable, data‑driven financial processes for a multi‑entity, multi‑market organisation.

Qualifications & Experience

• Part‑qualified or newly qualified (ACA / CIMA) or equivalent experience.
• Experience working in multi‑entity environments or fast‑growing businesses.
• Solid grounding in revenue recognition, tax compliance, and intercompany accounting.
• Excellent knowledge of accounting software (Xero and/or Sage Intacct preferred) and strong Excel skills.
• An interest in systems and automation is more important than prior ERP implementation experience.
• Exceptional organisational skills with high attention to detail.

Personal Attributes

• Data‑driven mindset — approaches accounting as an information system, not just compliance, and thrives on turning raw data into clear insight.
• Tech‑curious and automation‑focused — looks for opportunities to eliminate manual work through tools, integrations, and process design.
• Growth mindset — excited to learn, take ownership, and develop their technical and systems skills in a scaling business.
• Change‑positive — comfortable working in an evolving finance function and keen to contribute ideas and improvements.

Why Join Us?

Join us at a pivotal moment of growth, where finance is central to how we operate and expand. You’ll play a hands‑on role in shaping processes, driving accuracy, and building the foundations of a scalable global group. Your work will have a direct impact on decision‑making, operational efficiency, and our ability to grow at speed. Smedley Group is committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion, belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We strive to be a team that supports diversity in the workplace and promotes an inclusive culture in which all team members are respected, empowered, and valued.