The Position
The Northern Europe Asset Management department is a growing team whose sole purpose is to deliver financial support services under Management Service Agreements (MSAs) across multiple clients owning renewable assets under management including onshore Wind Farms, Solar Farms and storage farms. The team is effectively an outsourced finance business partnership, which amongst many other services includes delivering on the following key tasks for each portfolio: monthly management accounts with comparisons and analysis to budget, cashflow forecasts, distribution calculations, annual budget preparation, bank loan compliance, financial statement preparation including audit process management and tax return oversight. It is essential that a strong control environment and professional scepticism is maintained throughout the team and processes and procedures are robust, well documented and are constantly monitored. The business continues to grow rapidly which therefore requires an individual that can quickly adapt to changes in priorities and ensure that an allocated portfolio of client always receives the quality service that they have come to expect. The AM Finance department is managing over 200+ Companies and a team size of 36 across 17 clients.There is a need for a senior member in the team who can manage a portfolio of clients and legal entities underneath independently with minimum supervision and support the annual audit process. This role will work alongside the other Client leads, Audit Manager and supervise management accountants in the long run. The primary responsibility of the Senior Management Accountant will be to manage the financial obligations for a portfolio of clients (operating assets and Hold Co. / consolidations) with a view to provide excellent service to the client by making sure all the deliverables are accurate, good quality and are produced efficiently in a timely manner. In addition, this role will also require supporting the audit process across a multiple portfolio of clients. The role will require an ability to form strong relationships with internal management and external asset management personnel. Accountabilities
1. Supervising / Reviewing the team’s preparation of monthly management accounts and assisting with issues or problems that arise
2. Being the trusted business partner and first point of contact for any issues, proposals or client related matters that needs escalation
3. Delivering periodic cashflow forecasts and distribution calculations with clear bridge analysis
4. Co-ordinating the annual budgeting process and ensuring fully board approvals
5. Quarterly board reports and presentation of finance sections at board meetings
6. Ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, specifically with regards to OFGEM
7. Managing bank compliance model preparation and loan covenant calculations, interest and principal repayments and any other banking requirements
8. Reviewing VAT returns for all asset managed entities before submission
9. Overseeing the preparation of the statutory accounts and ensuring consistency, quality and compliance with applicable accounting standard (FRS101, FRS102, IFRS) and Companies Acts for all asset managed entities
10. Preparation of consolidated annual accounts with applicable accounting standard featuring multiple operational entities and externally financed holding companies which include complex accounting treatments
11. On boarding of new projects into the asset management portfolio
12. Supporting continuous improvements to accounting and reporting processes together with the wider Finance and ERP Development teams
13. Help with the contract review for financial obligations often reviewing the calculations and preparing Contract Summaries as and when needed
14. Other ad hoc improvements or process tasks as and when required
Knowledge
15. Strong accounting knowledge
16. IFRS, FRS 102, FRS 101 and UK GAAP
17. Understanding of both management and statutory accounting
Skills
18. Excellent technical accounting skills
19. Ability to scrutinize and analyze numbers to identity errors, variance analysis and raise questions
20. Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks and deadlines
21. A team player but with the discipline to work autonomously
22. Ability to articulate financial information to non-finance specialists
23. Excellent technical accounting skills
24. Ability to scrutinize and analyze numbers to identity errors, variance analysis and raise questions
25. Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks and deadlines
26. A team player but with the discipline to work autonomously
27. Ability to articulate financial information to non-finance specialists
28. Good communication skills and the confidence and credibility to communicate to external parties
29. Attention to detail
30. Adaptability to frequent change
31. Quick learner – grasp the needs of department very quickly with minim supervision
32. Proactive, ‘can do’ attitude, with a focus on continuous improvement of reporting and analysis
33. Good problem solving skills
34. Strong Microsoft Excel and accountancy systems skills
Experience
35. Experience of monthly, quarterly and annual management accounting routines within a commercial organization
36. Ability to deal with multiple entities and multiple clients
37. Sound experience of using an ERP system (use of Agresso/Business World a distinct advantage but not essential)
38. Experience in communicating with non-financial internal stakeholders
39. Preparation of statutory financial statements under IFRS, FRS 101 and FRS102
40. Ability to set up processes, templates and simplify
41. Experience of working with complex templates / spreadsheets is a must
42. Ability to work in collaboration with others effectively
43. Team management experience
Qualifications
44. Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
45. 5+ years working in renewables or similar industry
At RES, we celebrate differences as we know it makes our company a great place to work. Encouraging applicants with different backgrounds, ideas and points of view, we create teams who work together to solve complex problems and design practical solutions for our clients. Our multiple perspectives come from many sources including the diverse ethnicity, culture, gender, nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, marital status, parental status, education, social background and life experience of our people.