Lead Group Accountant, (Six month FTC) in London

About us
At Viasat, the work you do helps people stay connected in ways that matter, from everyday moments to critical missions across air, land, sea, and space. We’re a place for people who are curious, bold, and motivated by meaningful work. Here, you'll have the opportunity to make an impact, explore new possibilities, and grow your career in ways that align with your interests and goals. When you're ready to take on something new, you'll find leaders who support your development and help you turn your ambition into action.

What you'll do
We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for a Lead Group Accountant to join our dynamic European accounting centre on a temporary, fixed term basis. Viasat’s European accounting centre is the central accounting hub for Viasat’s legal entities and business operations within Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific (the Group). This accounting centre works with and is accountable for transactional accounting and both internal and external reporting requirements of the Group’s business operations. Viasat’s European accounting centre works in collaboration with other of Viasat’s accounting centres to generate and lead the accuracy and integrity of the Group’s financial results. This is a six month FTC with a possibility for extension.

The day-to-day
The successful candidate will be responsible for preparation of month end journals, reconciliations, financial statements, and other financial accounting activities within the central Group Financial Reporting team. This will include posting journals in relation to complex accounting areas. The candidate will work closely with other teams (including Financial Operations, Company Secretarial, Tax, & Treasury) ensuring all numbers are recorded accurately and that there is a clear communication between the teams. Day to day responsibilities will include:

• Preparing the journals for complex accounting areas specifically relating to IFRS-16 leases, equity-based payments, pension accounting and hedging.
• Reviewing consolidation entries for intercompany trade balance sheet accounts (including accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepayments and accruals).
• This includes working with the Financial Operations team to ensure appropriate elimination in SAP, while ensuring an appropriate elimination in Adaptive Insights.
• Reviewing balance sheet eliminations for all Group entities not on SAP, liaising with local accountants and the Group revenue team to ensure balances are aligned on both sides.
• Preparation of notes for the Group Consolidated Financial Statements.
• Preparing the monthly cashflow to be included as part of the quarterly management reporting.
• Management of the preparation and submission of various statistical returns for government agencies from around the world, ensuring that these are fairly distributed amongst the team and completed on time.
• Providing support for the posting all journals relating to treasury transactions and reconciling between the treasury management system (TMS) and SAP.
• Review of both external and intercompany borrowings and interest on a monthly basis.
• Supporting the business in accounting for the acquisition and future USGAAP reporting requirements.
• Supporting the control environment (specifically in respect to SoX), including GL reconciliations (utilising the Blackline application).
• Supporting Cash Operation, Global Credit Management and Tax Teams.
• Supporting all group and statutory audits.
• Maintain and carry out a high-quality internal control environment over applicable accounting processes and the general ledger close.
• Supporting Viasat Inc. in their quarterly SEC filing for certain disclosures.

What you'll need
Accounting qualification (CPA, ACA, or equivalent). Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting or a related field. Experience in a central finance accounting role. Working knowledge of accounting principles, standards, IFRS, US GAAP. Proactive individual with the ability and shown experience of optimally running various accounting and shared services projects to a high-quality solution simultaneously whilst adhering to deadlines, utilising best practise tools and techniques. Strong people skills; impactful, confident, credible and comfortable at engaging collaboratively in an intellectual and multinational environment at all levels. Strong verbal and written communications skills. Strong results orientated work ethic and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with passion for excellence and innovation. Ambassador both within and outside Finance. Experience of SAP and Adaptive Insights would be an advantage but is not essential. Ability to travel and work across cultures and time zones.

What will help you on the job
Previous experience using SAP ECC, Blackline Reconciliations, and Adaptive insight consolidation tool. In depth knowledge of relevant accounting standards: US GAAP and IFRS. Familiarity with AI tools or prompt engineering to enhance routine spreadsheet.

EEO Statement
Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic.