Financial Accountant

Financial Accountant

JOB DESCRIPTION

Employment basis: Full-time | Reports to: Finance Manager

Job summary

Responsible for the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of financial accounting and reporting across the group. The role will support the production of monthly management accounts and annual statutory accounts, maintain robust balance sheet controls, and ensure bank and balance sheet accounts are reconciled accurately and promptly.

The Financial Accountant will review the accuracy and completeness of VAT returns, support statutory compliance and audits, and identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting and internal controls.

Key responsibilities

Financial accounting and reporting

• Work closely with the Finance Manager and CFO to produce accurate monthly management accounts within agreed reporting deadlines.
• Take responsibility for balance sheet accounting, consolidation adjustments and cash flow reporting.
• Prepare and post journals, including accruals, prepayments, payroll and other month-end adjustments.
• Review the accuracy and appropriate classification of general ledger postings, investigating and correcting errors.
• Maintain and develop the month-end reporting timetable and control the opening and closing of accounting periods.
• Collect and prepare company carbon reporting requirements

Bank and balance sheet reconciliations

• Prepare and maintain bank reconciliations for relevant group entities and currencies, ensuring reconciling items are investigated and resolved promptly.
• Take ownership of the balance sheet reconciliation process, preparing reconciliations for assigned accounts and reviewing those prepared by others.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are supported by appropriate schedules and evidence, with clear explanations for outstanding items.
• Investigate aged, unusual or unsupported balances, arrange corrective action and escalate material issues to the Finance Manager.
• Maintain fixed asset records and account for additions, disposals and depreciation.
• Prepare intercompany reconciliations, resolve differences and coordinate settlements.
• Calculate and post transfer pricing adjustments in accordance with group policy.

VAT and tax compliance

• Review VAT returns before submission to assess their accuracy, completeness and consistency with underlying accounting records.
• Reconcile VAT control accounts and returns to the general ledger, investigating discrepancies and ensuring appropriate corrections.
• Check the effectiveness of VAT reporting processes and controls, including transaction coding, supporting documentation and the identification of unusual items.
• Liaise with external advisers on complex VAT matters and support the timely resolution of queries.
• Support external accountants with corporation tax computations and other statutory tax requirements.
• Monitor relevant filing deadlines and ensure assigned compliance obligations are completed on time.

Statutory accounts and audit

• Coordinate the preparation and completion of annual statutory accounts.
• Act as the principal day-to-day contact for external auditors, preparing supporting schedules and responding to queries.
• Liaise with external accountants and overseas finance teams to support group reporting and statutory compliance.
• Ensure accounting records and working papers are complete, accurate and audit-ready.

Financial controls and process improvement

• Identify and implement improvements to accounting processes, reconciliations and reporting.
• Strengthen internal controls and maintain clear documentation of key financial procedures.
• Maintain and improve the chart of accounts to support consistent and meaningful reporting.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the business to resolve accounting issues.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role and comply with the company’s Quality Management System.
• Utilize company approved AI tools to optimize production of accounts and analysis

Essential qualifications and experience

• Qualified accountant, such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and experience of financial reporting, statutory accounts and audit.
• Strong Excel and financial modelling skills including knowledge of Power Query.
• Practical experience of balance sheet reconciliations.
• Experience of preparing or reviewing VAT returns and reconciling VAT control accounts.
• Experience within a multinational or multi-entity organisation.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and a methodical approach to resolving discrepancies.
• Ability to meet deadlines without compromising accuracy or quality.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across finance and the wider business.
• Experience of cash flow reporting.

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of NetSuite or a comparable ERP system.
• Knowledge of intercompany accounting, consolidation and transfer pricing.
• Familiarity with international VAT and tax requirements.
• Knowledge of banking and treasury processes.
• Knowledge of using AI tools to optimize efficiency e.g. copilot/claude