At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic finance team, handling month-end reporting and operational finance activities.
- Company: Element, a globally recognised organisation with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Gain exposure to international finance and develop your accounting skills in a modern office.
- Other info: Excellent career growth opportunities and a supportive team atmosphere.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while supporting key financial processes.
- Qualifications: Solid accounting knowledge; experience in finance roles preferred but not essential.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 € per year.
Wilkinson & Associates is delighted to be supporting Element, a global organisation, to appoint an Accountant into its growing finance team based in Edinburgh. This is an excellent opportunity to join an internationally operating business in a broad and varied accounting role, offering exposure across month-end reporting, controls, European finance activity, stakeholder support and wider operational finance.
Based from a modern Edinburgh office, the successful candidate will join a collaborative and well-connected finance function with strong transport links and excellent facilities. The role offers the chance to develop within a large international organisation, while gaining exposure to a wide range of finance responsibilities across a complex operational environment.
Company Profile
Element is a globally recognised organisation operating across multiple international markets within a highly regulated and quality-focused environment. The business combines the scale and infrastructure of a large international group with a strong emphasis on collaboration, continuous improvement and professional development. Finance plays an important role in supporting accurate reporting, robust controls and effective decision-making across the wider organisation.
The Opportunity
This position sits within the finance function, supporting month-end reporting, balance sheet integrity, management information and wider European finance activity. While month-end accounting forms an important part of the role, the position also offers broader exposure to group reporting, operational finance support, planning, forecasting, audit and process improvement activity. It would suit someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced finance environment and takes pride in delivering accurate, high-quality financial information.
The role is likely to include:
- Preparing month-end management accounts, including accruals, prepayments and journals
- Supporting payroll accounting, sales adjustments and net sales reconciliations
- Uploading P&L, working capital and aged debtor information into group reporting systems
- Ensuring reporting outputs reconcile accurately to the general ledger
- Reviewing and challenging accounting treatments where appropriate
- Managing intercompany accounting across group entities
- Supporting budgeting, forecasting and planning for European central functions
- Monitoring capital project approvals and expenditure reporting
- Providing finance support to Finance Managers, Finance Business Partners and operational stakeholders
- Supporting VAT submissions, statutory reporting and audit requirements
- Producing monthly reporting and analysis for operational teams
- Monitoring KPIs and supporting wider reporting team activity
- Contributing to finance systems, controls and continuous improvement initiatives
Candidate Profile
We are keen to speak with candidates who bring a solid grounding in accounting, alongside a proactive and detail-oriented approach. This could suit someone who enjoys detail, structure and accuracy, but who also wants exposure to a broader finance environment rather than a narrowly focused transactional role. The successful individual is likely to demonstrate:
- Previous experience in a similar accounting, reporting or finance role
- A degree or professional accounting qualification would be beneficial, but is not essential
- Strong accounting knowledge, with a good understanding of general ledger activity
- Confident systems skills, with ERP or group reporting exposure advantageous
- Exposure to European accounting environments would be beneficial
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work well with finance and operational stakeholders
- Confidence to question, challenge and improve accounting processes where appropriate
- A proactive, independent and organised approach
- Strong attention to detail, particularly across VAT, reconciliations and ledger transactions
- A positive and adaptable style suited to a collaborative finance environment
Why Join?
This role offers the opportunity to join a highly regarded international business within a visible and broad finance role offering genuine development potential. For the right individual, this opportunity provides:
- Exposure to an international finance environment
- Breadth across accounting, reporting, controls and operational finance
- Interaction with European finance activity and group reporting processes
- Close collaboration with finance and non-finance stakeholders
- Involvement in planning, forecasting, audit and process improvement activity
- A modern, well-connected office environment in Edinburgh
- A strong platform to continue developing technical accounting, reporting and stakeholder management experience
If this role is of interest, please contact Jack Ramage for a private and confidential conversation.
Accountant (Qualified) employer: Wilkinson & Associates
Element is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture in a modern Edinburgh office. Employees benefit from exposure to a broad range of finance responsibilities within a large international organisation, alongside opportunities for professional development and continuous improvement. With strong transport links and excellent facilities, Element provides a supportive environment where finance professionals can thrive and contribute to impactful decision-making.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Accountant (Qualified)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Accountant role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its finance operations. We want to show that we’re not just interested in any job, but specifically in how we can contribute to Element's success in their finance team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice common interview questions related to accounting and finance. We should be ready to discuss our experience with month-end reporting and how we can support operational finance effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Accountant (Qualified)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Accountant role at Element. Highlight your relevant experience in month-end reporting, controls, and any European finance activity you've been involved in. We want to see how your skills align with what they're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're excited about this opportunity and how your proactive approach and attention to detail make you a great fit for the team. Don’t forget to mention your interest in working in a collaborative environment!
Showcase Your Skills:Be sure to highlight your strong accounting knowledge and any experience with ERP systems or group reporting. If you have exposure to European accounting environments or additional language skills, like German, make that known! We love candidates who can bring extra value.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wilkinson & Associates
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on your accounting principles and be ready to discuss month-end reporting, balance sheets, and reconciliations. Make sure you can explain how you've handled these tasks in previous roles, as this will show your practical experience.
✨Showcase Your Systems Skills
Familiarise yourself with common ERP systems and group reporting tools. If you have experience with specific software, be prepared to discuss how you've used it to improve processes or enhance reporting accuracy.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that challenge your problem-solving skills, especially around VAT submissions and audit requirements. Think of examples where you've had to question or improve accounting processes, as this demonstrates your proactive approach.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since the role involves collaboration with both finance and operational stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully communicated complex financial information to non-finance colleagues in the past.
