Job Description

This role is a great opportunity to use your significant financial knowledge to be the technical financial accounting expert for the group. You will also advise on the implications of changes to financial reporting requirements, including new IFRS or changes to the local authority Code, as well as advising on matters relating to the Prudential Code and on all statutory accounts disclosure issues.

In this role you will be accountable for;

• Leading on the accounting treatment of complex transactions including leases, financing arrangements, sale and leaseback, business acquisitions, equity accounting, hedging,
• Private Finance Initiative or Private Public Partnership transactions, advising business partners of the accounting and financial implications of proposed contractual arrangements; identifying issues and proposing alternative structures where necessary.
• Acting as the main point of contact and coordinator for multi-disciplinary projects involving tax, treasury, property development, corporate finance, business services, and modes.
• Ensuring that comprehensive accounting policies are in place, in line with the relevant accounting framework (IFRS and Local Authority Code), and reviews and updates on a regular basis.
• Advising on the implications for the Group of proposed changes in the local authority accounting regulations and IFRS; and ensures financial reporting follows all statutory and best practice requirements.
• Leading on the implementation across the Group of new accounting standards by acting as a technical expert, as well as project managing the overall implementation from start to finish.
• Handling the technical content of all statutory financial statements (Group and individual entities), ensuring that all comply with all relevant legislative requirements and that disclosure is complete and accurate.
• Coordinating with external auditors on technical accounting matters where necessary.
• Supporting the Head of Group Financial Accounting & Tax in the establishment of the department as a recognized “Centre of Excellence” for the provision of accounting advisory services and robust financial reporting.
• Presenting finance wide technical accounting updates and training.

Benefits

• Final salary pension scheme
• A 75% discount on National Rail Season Ticket and interest free loan
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Professional Accounting principles and standards including technical accounting advisory (Expert)
• Prepare financial transactions, statements and information (Expert)
• Prepare consolidated financial statements (Expert)
• Planning and preparing for Audits (Expert)
• Treasury Financial Accounting principles and standards (Expert)
• Management reporting and external reporting (Experience)
• Systems and Software (Experience)
• Commercial acumen (Experience)
• Controls (Experience)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (Expert)

Knowledge:

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA/ACA/CIMA) - essential
• Excellent ability to interpret IFRS accounting standards and apply them to complex transactions
• Good knowledge of Local Authority standards and financial statutory duties.

Experience:

• Extensive experience in a senior financial accounting position.
• Significant experience of leading all finance-related aspects of business acquisitions or disposals, including systems acquisition accounting, reporting, liaison with Tax and legal advisors etc.
• Experience of structured finance transactions (e.g. Private Finance Initiatives, and of financial instruments).
• Experience of working in the Group Finance function of a large organization with multiple divisions and practical experience of management and statutory consolidations, or equivalent experience of auditing similar organizations.
• Significant experience of producing or auditing complex published accounts for listed group or similar organization.
• Extensive experience of report writing, particularly technical accounting papers and memos.