Financial Accountant | Aberdeen | Full-Time | Hybrid Working | £50,000-£60,000 Benefits Your new company Hays is pleased to be representing a leading Higher Education Organisation, based in Aberdeen, in the recruitment of a Financial Accountant. This leading organisation has a strong reputation for excellence in education, innovation, and community engagement.As part of a strategic transformation within the finance function, this role has been created to enhance financial reporting capabilities and support robust decision-making across the organisation. The position reflects a commitment to continuous improvement, digital innovation, and compliance with evolving financial regulations. Your new role As the Financial Accountant, you will lead the preparation of statutory financial statements in line with UK accounting standards and sector-specific SORPs, deliver regular management reporting, including variance analysis and forecasts, support budgeting and long-term financial planning. You will also provide financial insight to senior stakeholders, manage and develop a finance team, contribute to strategic projects such as system upgrades and process automation, ensure compliance with external reporting obligations, and stay abreast of changes in financial regulations to maintain organisational compliance. What you'll need to succeed To succeed in this role, you will be a qualified accountant (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ICAS) (or working towards qualification) with significant experience in financial reporting, including statutory accounts preparation, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis. You’ll bring strong technical knowledge of UK GAAP, FRS 102, excellent communication skills to engage non-finance stakeholders, proven leadership experience, high proficiency in Excel and financial systems, and ideally, a background in higher education or public sector, with familiarity in charity accounting and VAT. What you'll get in return You'll enjoy a competitive salary, aligned with public sector pay scales, a generous annual leave and pension scheme. Flexible working arrangements include hybrid options, opportunities for professional development and career progression, and a supportive team culture with access to wellbeing initiatives. What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. 4728381