Financial Accountant

Career Legal; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 96,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Legal is recruiting a Financial Accountant to strengthen financial control across the European business, leading indirect tax compliance for the UK, Luxembourg and Belgium. The role also supports broader financial and management accounting activities within the group.

You will develop VAT controls, deliver training, assist budgeting and forecasting, and support audits and external reporting in a collaborative finance team.

Qualifications

• Degree in accounting, finance or similar preferred.
• ACA/ACCA or equivalent qualification, or nearing completion.
• Experience in professional practice, advisory, audit or financial reporting.
• Strong indirect tax and accounting knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Administer VAT processes and filing across European entities (UK, Luxembourg, Belgium).
• Review and improve end-to-end VAT processes and related controls.
• Develop and roll out training on VAT procedures to finance teams.
• Respond to VAT queries and prepare for VAT audits with authorities/advisors.
• Support monthly financial and management accounting, including journals and reconciliations.
• Assist budgeting, forecasting, and external audit requests as needed.
• Contribute to regulatory and external reporting requirements.
• Drive process improvements and collaborate with senior finance stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Indirect tax knowledge

Experience in accounting/advisory or/a

Education

BA in Accounting or Finance

ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Operating for over a decade, our client is a leading global player in commercial law. They have a range of high-profile clients including FTSE and AIM companies, and a dedicated team of over 900 lawyers across eleven offices. People are key to their success, which is why they seek to recruit and retain the most talented individuals in all regions of their global practice.

They are now looking for a Financial Accountant; This role plays a key role in delivering robust financial control across the European business, with primary responsibility for indirect tax compliance alongside a broader role across Financial and Management Accounting functional activities.

Responsibilities

• VAT process and filing ownership across the European business;
• Review of existing end-to-end VAT processes including VAT return preparation for our UK, Luxembourg and Belgian businesses;
• Identify root cause deficiencies and work with the appropriate functional team members to remediate issues at source. For example, Billing or Accounts Payable controls and processes;
• Develop controls and checklists to ensure robust VAT return procedures are in place and adhered to, with a clear escalation mechanism in place;
• Develop and roll out training to the Finance team and other colleagues as required;
• Respond to ad hoc queries from colleagues with respect to the appropriate VAT treatment to be applied;
• Prepare the business for future VAT audits and be on point to work with VAT authorities and advisors in the event of a VAT audit;
• Support the preparation of financial and management accounts, including journals, reconciliations, analysis and decision support, working in collaboration with the finance team members responsible for these areas;
• Assist the budgeting and forecasting process by preparing schedules, analysing trends and liaising with budget holders where required;
• Assist with external audit requests by preparing supporting documentation, responding to queries and coordinating with internal stakeholders;
• Support regulatory, statistical and other external reporting requirements as needed.
• Contribute toward process improvement initiatives;
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Finance Manager and work collaboratively with the Financial Accountant, Management Accountant and wider team on priorities, progress and key issues.

Candidate Profile

• Degree educated, with a BA in Accounting, Finance or similar preferred;
• ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualified, or nearing qualification;
• Relevant experience gained in professional practice, accounting advisory, audit, financial reporting or a similar technical accounting environment, with an interest in applying that expertise in an in-house role;
• Strong technical indirect tax and accounting knowledge and experience;
• Some exposure to management accounting, including monthly reporting, budgeting, forecasting or variance analysis, would be advantageous;
• Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency in Microsoft Office;
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels;

Important Notice

It is Career Legal’s policy, as a matter of courtesy, to respond to all applications within three working days. However, because of the volume of applications, we are sometimes unable to respond to individual candidates. If we have not contacted you within three working days your application has been unsuccessful, and your details have not been retained. Please apply for any other position that you may see in the future. Thank you.