Senior Accounting Manager - Business Performance and Optimisation in London

UNIQLO is a leading brand of the Fast Retailing Group, one of the largest apparel retailers in the world. UNIQLO respects the individuality and lifestyle of all customers and takes pride in creating high quality, long-lasting, innovative clothing at an affordable price.

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Accounting Manager who will specialise and lead business performance and optimisation initiatives. This newly created role will become a key member of our Financial Control and Accountability Team, and sit within Uniqlo’s European Finance Department based from our European Headquarters in London.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the accounting quality within our European markets, requiring a close working relationship with the whole finance team and the wider business, including store colleagues, headquarter teams and our global headquarter and finance services in Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur.

What you will be responsible for:

• Senior Accounting Responsibilities:

• Quality of IFRS reporting, including additional quarterly and annual disclosures
• Management and ownership of two local markets with direct line management for the Financial Accountant leading these
• Hold regular discussions with Corporate Planning, Inventory Accuracy and Procurement teams to aid P&L management and business insight, whilst actively seeking cost saving initiatives for the business
• Build relationships with store management and the Ecommerce business to identify potential accounting issues and to aid management’s understanding of their P&Ls

• Scrutiny and assessment of J-SOX controls
• Design, maintain & monitor compliance of internal controls and system flows over the end-to-end key finance processes
• Review and scrutiny of the balance sheet across each market
• Conduct deep dive reviews by market or by accounting function
• Build a robust review process for reporting, compliance and controls
• Process development/enhancement and provide efficiencies
• Coach and train our centralised accounting and AP functions dealing with transactional processes (Global Finance function, in Kuala Lumpur)

Skills, Experience and Attributes:

• Qualified Accountant of ACCA or ACA qualification (or equivalent) with 10+ years of experience
• Expert knowledge of balance sheet and P&L account classifications
• Experience in project managing continuous improvement initiatives for internal processes and efficiency benchmarking
• Strong analytical skills and expert knowledge of Excel and ERP systems
• Retail experience is desirable, but practical IFRS experience is preferred
• Audit background preferred with additional in-house experience
• Experience collaborating with outsourced providers would be highly advantageous
• Fluent in English essential, Japanese or additional European language would be beneficial
• Collaborator with strong stakeholder management skills and proven ability to influence at all levels of the business
• Proactive and adaptable
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills to take accountability of own workload to deliver to tight deadlines

What we can offer you:

• 26 days of paid leave per holiday year + 8 bank holidays
• Staff Discount 30%
• Global Profit Share Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Private Medical Care (optional)
• Private Pension Scheme (optional)
• Travel to work loan scheme
• Hybrid working, 2 days from home, 3 days in the office
• Social events throughout the year
• Seasonal Sample Sales
• Volunteer Day – twice a year
• Great Location - Close to transport links, underground Piccadilly and Oxford Street stations. Close by to shops, restaurants/bars/cinema and gyms

UNIQLO is an inclusive employer and we welcome applications from all profiles, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities or background.

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