Finance Manager - NI Reporting in Carrickfergus

We are seeking a Finance Manager (NI Reporting) to join the Northern Ireland finance team. This is a broad role, primarily responsible for the financial reporting for NI assets. The position will oversee collation of gross margin, costs and group reporting, and includes line management responsibility for one Assistant Accountant. This role will ensure timely and accurate reporting to Group for required monthly, quarterly and annual returns, as well as completion of external statutory returns for the NI assets. In addition, this role will support the Head of Finance – NI in coordinating overall month end results, business plans, and reforecasts, with exposure to various projects and commercial initiatives. This role is based at the Kilroot Power Station, Carrickfergus, and operates on a hybrid model, with an expectation of three days per week in the office.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Head of Finance – Northern Ireland, the key responsibilities and duties will include:
• Financial Reporting

• Co-ordination of initial reviews of NI monthly accounts including interlinking closely with the Finance Manager – All-Island Trading & Commercial and ensuring timely delivery of results.
• Ensure appropriate management of accounts packs in line with recognised accounting standard.
• Support finance cost managers on maintaining accounts, improvements etc. with focus on appropriate treatment of balance sheet cash flow items and reporting adjustments.
• Co-ordinate gross margin and working capital monthly results and re-forecasting.
• Preparation and presentation of monthly results to EPH group level, ensuring a strong understanding of commercial performance across our assets.
• Support on financial modelling/analysis as required.
• Initial review/feedback on balance sheet reconciliations for NI assets, ensuring accurate and timely completion and action of any feedback.

• Consolidation and co-ordination of Gross margin and Cost business plan materials, packs and commentary, ensuring timely delivery.
• Action tracking, support on overall slide consolidation for EPH Group.
• Identification and development of risks and opportunities and support and co-ordinate sensitivity analysis.
• Drive improvements in cashflow and working capital movements ensuring accurate cashflow forecasts (business plan and monthly forecasts) for Gross Margin and cost items, hedging items and EUA payments.
• Support on specific areas of forecasting as required, such as new unit commissioning, makesafe site closure, outage optimisation and ensuring these areas are reported and managed appropriately.

• Overall responsibility for all group reporting submissions for the NI assets.
• Overall responsibility for submission of NI financial KPIs as required, preparation of monthly 'key issues' packs.
• Be the face of the NI team for audit, including internal team co-ordination, progress tracking, interfacing with external auditors and driving query resolution in a timely manner.
• Support the central team on entity stat account preparation including disclosure preparation, adjustment tracking and initial reviews.
• Support the site team in ensuring all external submissions are done in an accurate and timely manner, including fuel oil rebates, DECC returns, landfill tax.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of central items such as pensions, tax within the NI assets.
• Drive continuous improvement across NI reporting processes including Onestream, build strong relationships with the EPH reporting team.
• Support with statutory accounts preparation as required, including associated disclosures and provisions.

• Line management and mentoring for one team member (NI Assistant Accountant).
• Assist the Head of Finance - NI and overall team with other requirements as necessary including business cases.
• Drive continuous improvement and efficiency within financial reporting space.
• Undertake projects and initiatives as required to drive business value.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Background

• Previous experience in a similar reporting finance role (essential).
• Excellent Excel skills, with the ability to build and use Excel models and analyse data (essential).
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards and their appropriate application (essential).
• Basic understanding of UK taxation (essential).
• Experience of SAP (desired).
• Financial modelling experience (desired).
• Experience of working in an energy, manufacturing or production focussed environment (desired).

• Commercially astute and curious with the ability to drive value and core business understanding into the financial reporting (essential).
• Highly credible and able to quickly build effective working relationships (essential).
• Can engage, challenge and influence others at a senior stakeholder level through verbal and written communication (essential).
• Pragmatic and flexible in approach (essential).
• Self-starter and able to work autonomously (essential).
• Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritise (essential).

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) and considerable post-qualified experience (essential).
• Qualified to degree level or equivalent (desired).