Position Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Financial Accountant
DEPARTMENT: Finance
LOCATION: Staines
REPORTS TO: Accounting Director UK, Ireland and South Africa
JOB PURPOSE:
To provide accurate and timely recording, classification and reporting of accounting transactions. There will be an emphasis on reconciliations, SOX controls, reporting results and recording of routine and non-routine transactions.
This is a Financial Accountant role that will require an understanding of multiple international entities, matrix structures and statutory & SOX impacts. In addition, the role will require ad hoc analysis and reporting requests.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Responsible for financial accounting for UK Accounting team managed entities and activities related to the month end close, including journals, analysis and reporting
2. Responsible for all regulatory compliances, VAT returns, SOX controls and liaison with tax authorities for UK Accounting team managed entities
3. Perform Balance Sheet reconciliations to a high level with strong support and reasoning
4. Prepare and submit audit information to a professional standard and be a key contact for the statutory audits.
5. Prepare UK GAAP trial balance and financial statements
6. Assist the UK Accounting Director and Deputy Accounting director with process and SOX improvements
7. Take on key projects such as business cases, technical memos, detailed analysis and operational reviews
8. Build close working relationships with the UK Finance team, external advisors and intercompany partners
9. Work across the organisation's matrix structure, providing support to those that need it and obtaining information when it is required
10. Strive for continuous process improvements.
KEY DUTIES/TASKS:
11. Take a key role in the annual audit & month end related tasks for UK Accounting team managed entities
12. Prepare detailed calculations for key accounting areas, including employee costs, bad debt and intercompany
13. Post journals based on well-prepared support and present such support for scrutiny to management and auditors
14. Prepare sound balance sheet reconciliations and support
15. Build and maintain strong relationships with key members of staff
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
16. The role currently has no management responsibilities.
KEY STAKEHOLDERS:
17. Accounting Director and Deputy Accounting Director for UK, Ireland and South Africa
18. Financial Accounting team
19. EMEA Senior Financial Director & Team
20. Head of FP&A & Team
21. UK CFO
Skills, Education and Other Requirements
Skills:
22. Microsoft Office essential (Advanced Excel, Basic Word and PowerPoint)
23. Comfortable with large amounts of data
Education and Experience:
24. Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA)
25. ERP Oracle and Hyperion Planning experience preferred
26. Experience of an international corporate structure and matrix organisation
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following capabilities:
Teamwork
27. Builds and maintains strong working relationships
28. Actively networks across the business, contribute to cross functional teams
29. Values delivering high quality service to internal & external clients
Communication
30. Communicates with tact & sensitivity, invites feedback
31. Expresses facts in a clear and concise manner
32. Recognises information required from others and informs them appropriately
Analytical & Problem Solving
Able to obtain unbiased information by effectively questioning and probing
Uses sound rationale for problem identification and decision making
Goes beyond the initial findings and takes steps to check multiple data sources and interpret various types of data
Consistently determines an accurate sequence of activities to achieve goals
Proactively looks for root causes and not just symptoms of problems
Appropriately uses metrics and understands the information's impact on decisions
Results Orientated
Strong sense of urgency about solving problems and completing tasks
Able to embrace and adapt to change
Prioritises, Self-manages and proposes win-win solutions
Attention to Detail
Organised and able to track work progress against schedule
Ensures appropriate documentation on methodology and assumptions is in place
Scrutinises own work
Follows up with others to ensure work is tracking according to plan
Interpersonal Skills
Takes a partnership approach
Responsive and aware of others
Resilient
Knows who to involve in a process or decision making exercise