Job Description

The role will include responsibility for monthly management accounting and reporting into the Group consolidation system. In addition, the role will involve input into various support processes including the posting of accounting entries, assessment of financial instrument valuations, adjustments to hedge accounting positions, plus ad-hoc financial analysis and reporting. The role also supports interim and full year statutory reporting under IFRS and includes external auditor liaison as part of both subsidiary and group interim and year end audits. This is very much a hands on role involving a significant amount of data analysis, maintenance of accounting ledgers and reconciliation of various accounts. There is currently significant scope for process improvements in this accounting area, particularly in the use of spreadsheets, and improving the efficiency and accuracy of the accounting process will be a key deliverable for this role.

Key accountabilities

• Responsibility for delivering operational treasury accounting and reporting and working with senior accounting colleagues and the Group's auditors to secure agreement on areas of judgment.
• Assists with the maintenance and development of treasury accounting processes and policy within the Group. Supports the Imperial Brands finance community in the application of relevant accounting policies including advising on what any changes to policies mean in practice.
• Assists the Senior Accounting Manager with ad-hoc treasury analysis including the projected impact of proposed changes to the Group’s corporate structure, loan structures, and financial instrument portfolio and hedging strategies.
• Contributes to an ongoing review of improvements to Group financial reporting and disclosures for both internal management information purposes and external statutory reporting.
• Assists the Senior Accounting Manager with providing analysis and advice on accounting implications of large or complex transactions.
• Involvement in technical and judgmental accounting areas supporting senior management stakeholders. This includes input into treasury related technical accounting papers some of which form the basis of pre-reads for meetings of the Group’s Audit Committee.
• Will be involved in regular reviews of balance sheet and income statements and will be required to prepare regular reconciliation of key accounts.
• Will be involved in administering intragroup loan changes and will support internal counterparty finance teams in managing through any changes to internal funding requirements.
• Will work with the Senior Accounting Manager on the development and maintenance of the treasury accounting function’s approach to the documentation ensuring a strong and efficient financial control framework.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Qualified financial accountant with at least two years post qualification experience
• This role does not necessarily require prior treasury accounting experience but does require a high level of numeracy and ability to understand financial instrument valuations and accounting processes, foreign exchange and interest rate risk and associated statutory reporting requirements
• Prior experience of dealing with IFRS 9 and/or IAS 32 or working in a financial services accounting or treasury accounting environment would be an advantage but is not essential
• Highly technically astute, with experience of accounting and reporting in the context of preparing company financial statements
• A strong overall knowledge of IFRS
• A general understanding and preferably experience of period end close processes in the context of a Group
• Strong organization and project management skills, including the ability to prioritise, keep key interested parties involved and flag up issues to the right people as necessary
• Excellent report writing skills with an ability to clearly communicate and explain complex technical issues to different audiences
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including the ability to work with pivot tables, V-Lookups and multiple linked spreadsheets
• A general understanding of the need for financial controls and basic associated requirements within a treasury financial accounting and reporting function
• Close attention to detail where required but also the ability to identify the significance of issues within the context of the overall financial statements
• Drive and enthusiasm to ensure team succeeds in achieving fixed and demanding deadlines
• Not afraid to challenge norms and a willingness to focus on continuous improvement to process.
• Commitment and flexibility to work with other team members to deliver on shared goals