Principal Accountant

Our client, an Oil and Gas Operator is seeking a Principal Accountant for a 12 Month PAYE contract (maternity cover) position based in Aberdeen. There is a hybrid working system in place for this role.

Job Overview:

Responsible for the successful delivery of all month-end, interim, and year-end financial close processes including impairment and decommissioning; support Corporate Accounting processes in the preparation and delivery of statutory accounts, ensuring compliance with relevant standards (e.g., IFRS, GAAP) and oversee and maintain controlled SAP master data changes and enhancements (e.g., WBS structures, hierarchies, profit and cost centres)

Audit Delivery & External Relationships:

• Deliver clear and efficient year-end and interim audits.
• Support Corporate Accounting in preparing the statutory accounts in line with relevant requirements (IFRS and GAAP).
• Build and manage relationships with external auditors.

SAP Master Data Oversight:

Oversee relevant and controlled SAP master data changes (e.g., WBS, hierarchies, profit/cost centres) to support business operations.

Accounting Process Improvement:

Lead continual improvements in key accounting processes, including Impairment, Annual Decommissioning Reviews, and Revenue Accounting.

Work with the Controls function to implement findings from internal and external audits.

Advisory on Significant Accounting Matters:

Act as an advisor on significant or one-off accounting and reporting matters (e.g., acquisitions, disposals, legal entity changes), ensuring they are reflected correctly in systems and processes are completed to conclusion.

Participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for system changes

Lead the impairment assessment process (half-year and year-end), including:

• Provide economic assumptions and data inputs
• Build and run valuation models (asset values and goodwill)
• Collaborate with Tax to ensure accurate portfolio tax modelling
• Review and challenge key assumptions and inputs
• Prepare analysis and supporting audit requirements
• Support the annual Decommissioning Review process
• Any other associated duties as reasonably required

Competence & Qualifications

Technical Skills

• Strong all-round financial and technical accounting skills & knowledge.
• Strong Excel capability - experience of building/improving models.
• Strong SAP ERP, BW & BPC knowledge.
• Critical thinking and analytical skills to provide check and challenge to the business in their decision making in an effective and constructive manner.
• Excellent coaching and knowledge transfer skills - can deliver through others

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, CA, ACCA, CIMA)