Financial Accountant in Basingstoke, Hampshire

Location: Basingstoke – Hybrid – Three Days in Office

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours: Monday-Friday

A Summary

As one of the UK's most trusted brands, we provide a wide range of services to millions of customers. From comprehensive Home and Motor Insurance to personalised Financial Services like Loans and Savings, and outstanding B2B, Consumer, Business Services, Driver Training, Car Care, and Service Maintenance and Repair, we've got you covered. Our mission is to keep Britain moving, and we're looking for dedicated individuals to join our team.

This is the job

As a Financial Accountant, you’ll play a key role in delivering a high-quality, professional finance and accounting service across the AA Group, working closely with the wider Insurance Finance team. Supporting the Financial Controller, you’ll get involved in a broad range of activities, including management accounting, financial reporting, financial control and technical accounting. You’ll help ensure strong governance and accountability, while maintaining the accuracy and integrity of our Insurance accounts. You’ll also play an important part in strengthening our financial controls, supporting existing systems and helping to embed effective controls as new systems are introduced. It’s a varied role where you’ll have the opportunity to make an impact and help shape how we work.

What will I be doing?

• Supporting the month-end process for the Insurance Division, ensuring accurate and timely financial and KPI reporting that meets internal and external deadlines.
• Preparing monthly financial reports, including analysis and insightful commentary across financial performance, KPIs, balance sheet and cash flow.
• Maintaining the accuracy and integrity of financial records, accounts and processes, ensuring appropriate accounting standards, governance and controls are consistently applied.
• Reviewing balance sheet reconciliations, identifying and resolving issues and ensuring appropriate action is taken where required.
• Partnering with Commercial Finance teams and the wider business to understand performance, challenge results and provide meaningful financial insight.
• Supporting the Insurance Division’s financial control framework, including strengthening controls across existing and new systems.
• Producing regulatory returns, including Retail Mediation Activities Returns (RMAR) and Product Sales Data (PSD) returns for the FCA, alongside other regulatory requirements.
• Contributing to forecasts, budgets and five-year plans, including maintaining accurate information within planning and consolidation systems.
• Driving continuous improvement across financial processes and reporting, identifying opportunities to automate, standardise and simplify ways of working.
• Collaborating with external advisers, auditors and colleagues across Insurance and Group Finance, supporting year-end and interim audits as well as wider projects.

What do I need?

• Part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), with good progress towards completing your qualification.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge with the ability to apply it confidently in a commercial environment.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills, with strong attention to detail and a focus on accuracy.
• Confident communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to produce clear and effective financial reports.
• Proven stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and collaborate across teams.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, with confidence working with financial data.
• Practical experience of finance systems such as SAP, BPC or Trintech, alongside strong general IT skills.
• Proactive approach to continuous improvement, with the confidence to challenge existing ways of working and identify better solutions.
• Good understanding of process improvement, automation or finance transformation initiatives.
• Relevant experience gained within an accountancy practice or similarly fast-paced finance environment.

Additional information

We’re always looking to recognise and reward our employees for the work they do. As a valued member of The AA team, you’ll have access to a range of benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays + holiday buying scheme
• Worksave pension scheme with up to 7% employer contribution
• Free AA breakdown membership from Day 1 plus 50% discount for family and friends
• Discounts on AA products including car and home insurance
• Employee discount scheme that gives you access to a car salary sacrifice scheme plus great discounts on healthcare, shopping, holidays and more
• Company funded life assurance
• Diverse learning and development opportunities to support you to progress in your career
• Dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and a 24/7 remote GP service for you and your family
• Plus, so much more!

We’re an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. The AA values diversity and the difference this brings to our culture and our customers. We actively seek people from diverse backgrounds to join us and become part of an inclusive company where you can be yourself, be empowered to be your best and feel like you truly belong. We have five communities to bring together people with shared characteristics and backgrounds and drive positive change.

As part of the onboarding process, we complete several pre-employment checks including work reference, credit and criminal record checks. We may close the vacancy sooner than the advertised date if we get a high volume of applications, please apply now if you are interested.