Senior Financial Accountant

Senior Financial Accountant Role Purpose

The Senior Financial Accountant will play a pivotal role within the finance function, with responsibility for delivering accurate and insightful group financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, and ensuring a robust financial control environment across the organization.

The role will act as a trusted business partner to the Finance Director, CFO and senior leadership team, providing analysis and insights to support strategic decision-making and business performance. The position will also have ownership of Group overhead accounting and reporting, management of the Group's rental portfolio and IFRS 16 accounting, and responsibility for supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the finance function.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Finance Director and CFO to strengthen financial controls, improve processes and systems, and support the continued development of a best-in-class finance function.

Key Responsibilities Group Financial Reporting

• With the Finance Director, lead the monthly Group reporting process, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of financial results.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial performance reports for the CFO, CEO and parent company.
• Analyze actual performance against budget, forecast and prior year results, providing meaningful variance analysis and commentary.
• Prepare executive reporting packs with clear insights into business performance and key financial drivers.
• Support the production of Board and parent company reporting requirements.
• Drive continuous improvements in reporting processes, systems and data quality.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning

• Lead and coordinate the annual budgeting process across the Group.
• Manage periodic forecasting cycles and reforecast submissions.
• Work closely with budget holders and senior management to develop robust financial forecasts.
• Challenge assumptions and provide financial insight to improve forecast accuracy.
• Support long-term financial planning, scenario modelling and strategic decision-making.
• Develop and maintain financial models to support commercial and operational initiatives.

Corporate Overheads Management

• Own the accounting, control and reporting of Group overhead expenditure.
• Produce detailed monthly reporting and analysis of overhead spend.
• Partner with key budget holders and stakeholders across the organization, including:

• IT Leadership Team
• Sales & Marketing Leadership
• Transformation Directors
• HR and Corporate Function Leaders

• Liaise closely with the Accounts Payable team to ensure accurate coding, processing and reporting of overhead costs.
• Review expenditure trends and provide meaningful analysis of variances against budget and forecast.
• Support budget holders in understanding cost performance and identifying opportunities for improved cost management and forecast cost savings.
• Ensure overhead costs are appropriately accrued and reported in accordance with accounting policies and reporting requirements.
• Drive cost transparency and accountability across the organization.

Property Portfolio & IFRS 16 Accounting

• Manage the accounting and reporting of the Group's rental and leased asset portfolio.
• Maintain IFRS 16 lease accounting schedules and calculations.
• Ensure accurate accounting for right-of-use assets, lease liabilities, depreciation and finance charges.
• Support lease renewals, modifications and new lease assessments.
• Provide financial analysis and reporting relating to lease commitments and property costs.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with IFRS 16 requirements.

Financial Control, Governance & Compliance

• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of the general ledger and financial reporting processes.
• Preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations and control accounts.
• Maintain a strong financial control environment to support accurate and reliable reporting.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of finance policies and procedures.
• Assist the Finance Director and CFO with the implementation and enhancement of financial controls, governance frameworks and best-practice processes across the finance function.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process improvement, automation and efficiency gains.
• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, internal policies and regulatory requirements.

Audit & Statutory Reporting

• Act as a key finance contact for external and internal auditors.
• Support the preparation of annual statutory accounts and associated disclosures.
• Assist with tax compliance, regulatory reporting and other statutory obligations.
• Support the implementation and testing of financial control requirements where applicable.

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong working relationships with senior leaders across the organization.
• Present financial information clearly and effectively to finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Provide proactive financial insight and challenge to support key business decisions.
• Support strategic projects, transformation initiatives and business improvement programmes.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CFO, Finance Director and leadership team on financial performance and control matters.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications Essential

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant post-qualification experience in financial accounting, reporting or finance business partnering.
• Strong experience in monthly management reporting within a multi-entity or complex organization.
• Experience leading budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Experience preparing reporting and analysis for senior executive stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience of IFRS 16 lease accounting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Excel and financial systems expertise.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience within a Group reporting environment.
• Experience working in a private equity-backed, listed or multinational organization.
• Experience supporting a CFO, Finance Director or senior leadership team.
• Experience of finance transformation, process improvement and control enhancement initiatives.
• Knowledge of consolidation and Group reporting systems.
• Experience operating within a SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) control environment and understanding of SOX compliance requirements.

Key Competencies

• Commercially minded with strong business acumen.
• Highly analytical and detail-oriented.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Results driven and proactive.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively and drive accountability.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.

Success Measures

• Accurate and timely month-end Group reporting.
• Delivery of high-quality reporting and insights to the CFO, CEO and parent company.
• Successful execution of budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Effective management and reporting of corporate overhead expenditure.
• Full compliance with IFRS 16 accounting requirements.
• Strong balance sheet control and reconciliation processes.
• Positive audit outcomes and compliance with internal control standards.
• Successful implementation of finance process and control improvements.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and business partnering across the organization.