Accounting Lead

AlRayan Bank; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An ethical bank in the UK is seeking an experienced Accounting Lead to support financial, tax and control reporting obligations. This role requires overseeing compliance with IFRS standards and implementing automation solutions. Applicants should be qualified accountants with a strong background in regulated environments. The position focuses on facilitating efficient financial processes and compliance while promoting a culture of diversity and ethical banking.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Competitive career development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Significant post qualification experience required.
• Experience in the Finance team of a regulated Bank preferred.
• Proven ability to implement automation solutions.

Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to IFRS standards.
• Support strategic tax planning.
• Identify and lead automation initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Advanced Excel skills

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACCA, ACA or CIMA)

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Overview

Welcome to AlRayan Bank UK, the most successful Sharia compliant bank in the United Kingdom. AlRayan Bank UK is an extraordinary and flourishing institution that celebrates diversity and values ethics. As a prominent member of the AlRayan Bank Group - formerly Masraf Al Rayan, and one of the largest banks in Qatar, we are fuelled by an unwavering ambition for excellence, promising you an exhilarating journey ahead.

At AlRayan Bank UK, we embrace change as an opportunity for positive transformation. Currently, our focus lies on building a culture of inclusivity and diversity, creating an environment where every individual's unique perspectives are valued. We understand the importance of work-life balance and flexibility, and we are committed to empowering our employees to thrive both personally and professionally. The Bank is going through the most successful period in its history, and this success is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and expertise of our incredible team. Join us on this exciting venture, where you\'ll have the chance to make a significant impact while enjoying a supportive and rewarding work environment. Come and join us and be part of something extraordinary.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Accounting Lead at our London Office. The Accounting Lead will play a pivotal role in supporting the Senior Financial, Tax and Controls Reporting Manager in delivering the Bank\'s financial, tax, and control reporting obligations. A key focus of the role is to incorporate the adoption of advanced technological solutions to transform and automate core technical and operational accounting processes. The role holder will be responsible for ensuring that accounting processes and workstreams remain aligned with evolving accounting standards (e.g., IFRS 9, IFRS 18) and in support with the Bank\'s strategic objectives. The role holder will also encompass responsibility for supporting statutory submissions, as well as ensuring compliance with direct and indirect tax requirements including BBSI, AEOI, ISA, and Corporation Tax returns-through the integration of digital solutions and intelligent reporting frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Compliance
• Ensure adherence to evolving IFRS standards, including IFRS 9, IFRS 13, IFRS 7, IFRS 16, IAS 7, IFRS 15, IAS 12, and IFRS 18.
• Deliver expert technical updates and insights on changes to accounting policies and disclosures, ensuring compliance with newly issued or amended standards and interpretations within each reporting period.
• Maintain timely and accurate reporting in critical areas such as revenue recognition, financial instruments, fair value measurement, derivatives and hedge accounting, expected credit loss provisions, leases, and taxation.
• Interpret and implement changes in UK and international tax legislation, ensuring accurate reporting of current and deferred tax under IFRS (IAS 12).
• Collaborate with external auditors and internal stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate completion of audits.

• Tax Strategy & Regulatory Reporting
• Support strategic tax planning and ensure compliance with HMRC regulations and submission deadlines.
• Drive process optimization and integration of regulatory tax reporting, including BBSI, AEOI, and ISA submissions.

• Process Improvement & Automation
• Identify and lead automation initiatives across reporting and operational finance processes using tools such as Power BI and other data warehouse applications.
• Design and maintain reporting templates, dashboards, and reconciliation tools to enhance efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for recurring financial processes.
• Promote standardisation and documentation of accounting processes and internal controls.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Transformation
• Partner with Finance, IT, Risk, and Compliance teams to ensure integrated reporting and system alignment through modern technology platforms.
• Work closely with IT and vendor providers to deploy tools for data extraction, validation, and centralisation of reporting (e.g., Power BI).
• Deliver analytical and transformation initiatives in alignment with strategic priorities, as directed by the line manager, Head of Finance and/or CFO.

• Qualifications & Experience
• Qualified Accountant (ACCA, ACA or CIMA), with significant post qualification experience
• Experience of working in the Finance team of a regulated Bank or other regulated environment
• Experience of working within middle office treasury operations (preferable but not essential)
• Proven experience in leading finance transformation initiatives and implementing automation solutions.

• Knowledge & Skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a transformation mindset.
• Proven ability and enthusiasm for identifying and implementing agile process improvements that enhance workflow efficiency and eliminate operational inefficiencies
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with finance systems and automation tools
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality

• Behavioural Competencies

• Trusted to do the right thing — to act with total integrity, put the customer first and stick to our promises.
• Empowered to own — to embrace change, take responsibility and ask for help when needed.
• Able to deliver — to draw on each other\'s strengths and believe in \"no blame\" and \"no ego\'s\". Show resilience.
• Motivated to succeed — to be passionate about our work, look for opportunities to learn and grow and celebrate each other\'s success.

To be passionate about our work. Look for opportunities to learn and grow and celebrate each other\'s success.

Conduct

• We expect staff to follow the standards required by our regulators. At all times:
• Act with integrity
• Act with due skill, care and diligence
• Be open and co-operative with regulators
• Pay due regard to the interests of customers and colleagues and treat them fairly
• Observe proper standards of market conduct
• Act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our growing bank where we can offer exceptional opportunities for you to make your mark and progress your career in a diverse, ethical bank that you can actually believe in. Empowering your career, together we\'ll deliver banking you can believe in.