Job Description

The team is effectively an outsourced finance department, which amongst many other services includes delivering on the following key tasks for each portfolio: monthly management accounts with comparisons and analysis to budget, cash flow 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 skepticism is maintained throughout the team and as such this role will ensure that 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 can continually assess staff resource and ensure that the client always receives the quality service that they have come to expect.

The role will require an ability to form strong relationships with internal management and external asset management personnel and to provide valuable input into business development and strategy to them.

Responsibilities and main duties:

• Supervising the team’s preparation of monthly management accounts and assisting with issues or problems that arise
• Being the trusted business partner and first point of contact for any issues, proposals or client related matters that needs escalation
• Delivering periodic cash flow forecasts and distribution calculations with clear bridge analysis
• Coordinating the annual budgeting process and ensuring fully board approvals
• Quarterly board reports and presentation of finance sections at board meetings
• 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
• Preparation of consolidated annual accounts with applicable accounting standard featuring multiple operational entities and externally financed holding companies which include complex accounting treatments
• Ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, specifically with regards to company
• Coordinating the financial audits, which includes liaising directly with the owners of asset managed assets, tax advisors and audit partners to ensure all parties are fully apprised of latest developments and actively engaged in resolving issues that need their input
• Preparing hedge accounting documents and on-going annual assessment of hedge relationships including consultation with necessary third parties to provide inputs into the valuations and accounting entries
• Managing bank compliance model preparation and loan covenant calculations, interest and principal repayments and any other banking requirements
• Coordinating submission of tax returns by building good relationships with the respective Asset Manager’s appointed tax advisors to help facilitate good flow of information and ultimately to deliver timely and accurate submissions
• Engaging in the continual improvement agenda by seeking new ways of working or automating repetitive tasks and checks to mitigate errors arising and to improve the efficiency, consistency and quality of our service
• Reviewing VAT returns for all asset managed entities before submission
• Ensuring strong internal control environment is observed and that transactions are authorized with delegated limits of authority.
• This includes developing systems and documenting the internal control framework, accounting policies and procedures for all asset managed entities
• Overseeing and maintaining the Company Secretary records, which will in many cases involve populating the books to fill missing entries, as well updating the books to reflect changes as they happen
• Project managing the on-boarding process for newly won MSA’s which includes directing the team and coordinating with the clients / outgoing asset manager.
• Any migration or integration is to be completed with the utmost efficiency to minimize interruption to the client
• Ad Hoc project work e.g. contract review for financial obligations, assisting with business development opportunities, business partnering with Asset Managers, resolving disputes, system migration
• Active role in business reorganization/change management and team resourcing

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Qualified accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA) with 8+ years’ experience
• Exceptional commercial awareness and proven ability to produce insightful management information / dashboards
• Strong technical accounting skills
• Renewables industry experience; Big Four background preferable
• Ability to communicate confidently with people on all levels and build strong working relationships
• Excellent time management, prioritization of workload ensuring deadlines are met
• Experience of managing a team of qualified /semi-qualified accountants and dealing with different personalities
• Ability to identify weaknesses in existing processes and drive continuous improvement agenda
• Ability to influence others as required
• Experience of different accounting package such as Agresso, SAP, SUN, SAGE or similar
• Advanced Excel skills