Financial Accountant in London

About Sureserve Compliance Fire: Sureserve Compliance Fire, part of the Sureserve Group, is a specialist in the design, installation, and maintenance of fire safety and electrical systems, providing fire and electrical compliance and testing services. This covers a comprehensive range of physical infrastructure and safety considerations required for a building to meet regulatory requirements. As a leading compliance service provider to the public sector, our success relies upon a market-leading, engaged, and highly skilled team, for which we are always seeking skilled and self-motivated individuals to join.

Role Overview: The business is going through an exciting period of growth and change, creating a fast-paced and dynamic environment with tangible opportunities for development and progression. The Financial Accountant owns core month-end controllership and balance sheet integrity - including journal and general ledger entries, reporting schedules, and balance sheet reconciliations - operating with a degree of autonomy over ledger ownership to ensure accuracy, control, and timely reporting. The role also supports the FD across audit, working capital, and finance process improvement, actively challenging existing ways of working to identify opportunities to improve processes, systems, and financial insight. This is an office based role that involves working closely with the Finance team and other stakeholders, while also engaging with operational teams and end users. The role offers a dynamic environment with opportunities for hands-on learning and development. Occasional travel to client sites or operational locations may be required. Hybrid working may be available depending on the role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead in coordinating and delivering timely month-end close in line with deadlines
• Produce month-end revenue and GM reporting, including relevant group reporting schedules
• Own core balance sheet accounting: accruals, prepayments, fixed assets, stock, capex, retentions
• Manage revenue recognition, project accounting and sales summaries, as required
• Complete external sales declarations and review quarterly VAT returns
• Act as key point of contact for external auditors during year-end audit
• Maintain strong understanding and control of the Business Central (BC) accounting system
• Contribute to weekly cashflow forecasting and payment runs
• Support working capital management, including invoicing flow, WIP balance, and aged debt
• Demonstrate leadership qualities through ownership, accountability and professional confidence, acting as a credible finance representative across the business and helping to set high standards within the Finance team.
• Partner with the business; support FD on ad hoc projects and finance process improvement
• Proactively identify digital, automation, and AI opportunities across AP, finance, and wider business processes
• Support the wider Finance team and business with sales summaries, ad-hoc tasks, forecasting, reporting schedules and other duties commensurate with the role

Qualifications, key skills and experience required:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Experience managing month-end close processes, including general ledger ownership, journals, reporting schedules, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Strong understanding of balance sheet control, reconciliations, general ledger processes, and journal preparation from end to end.
• Working knowledge of accounting systems, preferably Microsoft Business Central, with confidence maintaining accurate data and using system outputs to support reporting and control.
• Strong Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and reconciliations
• Sound process and control mindset, with strong attention to detail and a methodical approach
• Able to work accurately under month-end time pressure, manage workload independently, and meet deadlines.
• Confident problem solver who takes ownership, resolves issues pragmatically, and escalates appropriately
• Clear and professional communicator, able to work collaboratively with Finance colleagues, suppliers, non-finance stakeholders, and the wider business.
• Confident, mature and credible communicator with the judgement, resilience and presence to influence others, challenge constructively and develop into a future finance leader.
• Experience liaising with external auditors.
• Proactive mindset, with confidence in identifying process improvements, automation opportunities, and practical uses of AI.
• Hands-on and adaptable, with the flexibility to support cross-functional finance activity and changing business priorities.

What we offer:

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
• Additional day off for your birthday
• Pension contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 24/7 Virtual GP service
• Bike 2 Work scheme
• Discount benefits hub
• Health cash back scheme
• Hybrid working
• Career progression opportunities
• Ongoing Mentoring and 'career / performance coaching'
• Commitment to training and development