At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our finance team to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
- Company: Dynamic organisation embracing change and continuous improvement.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, exposure to senior stakeholders, and a technically rich role.
- Other info: Inclusive company culture celebrating diversity and equal opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-profile corporate accounting position.
- Qualifications: 4+ years of accounting experience with strong statutory reporting skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
As we continue to evolve and strengthen our corporate finance capability, we are looking for a Corporate Accountant to join our Head Office finance team based in Hemel Hempstead. This is a high-profile role within an evolving, change-driven organisation, ideal for someone who enjoys technical accounting, values strong financial control, and sees change as a positive opportunity.
The Role
Reporting to the Head of Financial Control / Divisional Financial Controller, you will be a key contributor to the head office accounting function, ensuring accurate, timely and high-quality statutory and management reporting across the Smiths Detection Group's corporate entities. You will play an important role in maintaining robust ledger structures, supporting statutory reporting, and ensuring that accounting data aligns with the corporate functional structure. The role has a strong technical accounting focus, including multi-currency transactions, loans, share capital, dividends and complex FX, working closely with Treasury and Tax.
Key Responsibilities
- Preparation and maintenance of management reports for central functions, using ledger and headcount data
- Ownership of management reporting structures (cost centres, GL hierarchies) to enable effective cost control and variance analysis
- Ensuring costs are recorded accurately in the correct ledgers; advising on coding and improving upstream data quality with HR, T&E and Master Data teams
- Accounting under IFRS for central entities, including loans, interest, equity transactions, dividends and foreign exchange
- Preparation of UK statutory accounts and support for internal and external audits
- Maintenance of distributable reserves tracking
- Maintaining registers for centrally issued bonds and guarantees
- Ensuring consistency between SAP, SAP BW and Oracle EPM (FCCS / EPBCS) through mapping tables
- Supporting forecasts, budgets and ad-hoc finance projects
- Promoting strong financial controls, compliance and Smiths Detection policies
About You
This role is not suitable for someone in their first role out of practice. We are specifically looking for a candidate with depth of experience who can operate with confidence and autonomy in a corporate environment.
Qualifications
Essential Experience and Skills
- Minimum 4 years' accounting experience (at least 2 years in industry)
- Strong statutory reporting experience (UK statutory accounts preparation is essential)
- Proven experience working with a ledger system (SAP preferred)
- Multi-currency accounting experience is essential
- Solid knowledge of IFRS and application of accounting standards
- Experience working in a head office or divisional finance function within a multinational organisation
- Comfortable working in a changing environment and able to adapt as the organisation evolves
Academic and Professional Qualifications
ACA or ACCA preferred. CIMA will be considered only where there is clear evidence of statutory accounting experience.
Personal Attributes
- Technically strong and detail-focused, with a "right first time" mindset
- Well-organised and able to manage deadlines such as month-end close
- Confident communicator, able to build effective relationships across Finance, HR, IT, Treasury and Tax
- A flexible, proactive self-starter who enjoys improvement, challenge and change
Benefits
- Hybrid working from our Hemel Hempstead office
- A technically rich, high-visibility corporate accounting role
- Exposure to complex group structures and senior stakeholders
- An organisation genuinely embracing change and continuous improvement
Equal Opportunity Statement
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support and embrace diversity.
Corporate Accountant in Kings Langley employer: Smiths Group
Contact Detail:
Smiths Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Corporate Accountant in Kings Langley
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work at Smiths Detection or similar companies. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job opportunities that aren't even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical accounting knowledge. Be ready to discuss IFRS, multi-currency transactions, and your experience with ledger systems like SAP. We want to see your confidence shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your adaptability! In a change-driven organisation, it's crucial to demonstrate how you've thrived in evolving environments. Share examples of how you've tackled challenges and improved processes in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Smiths Detection.
We think you need these skills to ace Corporate Accountant in Kings Langley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your statutory reporting experience and any work with multi-currency transactions to show us you’re the right fit for this Corporate Accountant role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re excited about this position. Share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated change in previous roles, as we value adaptability and a proactive mindset.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Since this role has a strong technical focus, don’t shy away from detailing your experience with IFRS and ledger systems like SAP. We want to see that you can handle the complexities of corporate accounting with confidence.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity within our evolving finance team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Smiths Group
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on your technical accounting knowledge, especially around IFRS and multi-currency transactions. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your expertise in statutory reporting and how you've handled complex financial scenarios.
✨Master the Ledger Systems
Familiarise yourself with SAP and any other ledger systems mentioned in the job description. If you have experience with these systems, prepare to share how you've used them to improve data quality and reporting accuracy in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Adaptability
This role is all about embracing change, so be prepared to talk about times when you've successfully navigated a shifting environment. Highlight your proactive approach to challenges and how you've contributed to improvements in financial processes.
✨Build Relationships
As a Corporate Accountant, you'll need to collaborate with various teams. Think of examples where you've effectively communicated with Finance, HR, or Treasury. Emphasise your ability to build strong working relationships and how this has benefited your previous organisations.