Accounting Specialist

Charles River Laboratories; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract research organization in the UK seeks an Accounting Specialist for a full-time, 9-month contract. This hybrid role involves supporting accounting reporting and compliance while collaborating with key business leaders across various locations. The ideal candidate will have experience in a rapidly growing organization, knowledge of US GAAP, and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in a complex rapidly growing organization.
• Experience of statutory audits.
• Knowledge of US GAAP.
• Experience within a multi-location international environment.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with key business leaders.
• An understanding of internal control processes; exposure to SoX advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Awareness of large ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Manager – European Accounting on accounting reporting.
• Support the existing finance team in delivering accurate and timely results.
• Build relationships with business finance and site leaders.
• Seek ways to continually improve processes.

Skills

Account Payable

Invoicing

Journal Entry

Data Entry

Accounting & Finance

Tax Returns

QuickBooks

General Ledger Accounting

Microsoft Excel

Reporting

Payroll

Financial statement

Account Receivable

ACCA

CPA

Education

Part / Qualified accountant or Experienced

Tools

Large ERP systems

QuickBooks

Job description

At Charles River we are passionate about improving the quality of peoples lives. When you join our global family you will help create healthier lives for millions of patients and their families.

Charles River employees are innovative thinkers who are dedicated to continuous learning and improvement. We will empower you with the resources you need to grow and develop in your career.

As a Charles River employee you will be part of an industry‑leading customer‑focused company at the forefront of drug development. Your skills will play a key role in bringing life‑saving therapies to market faster through simpler, quicker and more digitalised processes. Whether you are in lab operations, finance, IT, sales or another area, when you work at Charles River you will be the difference every day for patients across the globe.

Job Summary

An opportunity has arisen for an Accounting Specialist role within the European Accounting and Shared Services Team.

This role is full‑time (36.25 hours per week) and offered on a 9‑month fixed‑term contract with a hybrid work arrangement.

The successful applicant will work closely with the Manager – European Accounting on the accounting reporting and compliance for allocated businesses. You will support the existing finance team in delivering accurate and timely monthly results, clean internal and external audits, building on relationships with business finance and site leaders in addition to seeking out ways to continually improve.

The key to this role is the ability to collaborate as part of a strong team in addition to working cross‑functionally with leaders in different countries.

Minimum Requirements

• Part / Qualified accountant or Experienced
• Experience in a complex rapidly growing organization
• Experience of statutory audits
• Knowledge of US GAAP
• Experience within a multi‑location international environment
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with key business leaders
• An understanding of internal control processes; previous exposure to SoX would be advantageous
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Awareness of large ERP systems

The closing date for this role is Friday 05 December 2025.

Due to high volume of applications we are receiving, if you have not heard anything from Charles River Laboratories Edinburgh regarding the next steps of our recruitment process within 3 weeks of the closing date then please conclude you have been unsuccessful.

About Corporate Functions

The Corporate Functions provide operational support across Charles River in areas such as Human Resources, Finance, IT, Legal, Sales, Quality Assurance, Marketing and Corporate Development. They partner with their colleagues across the company to develop and drive strategies and to set global standards. The functions are essential to providing a bridge between strategic vision and operational readiness to ensure ongoing functional innovation and capability improvement.

About Charles River

Charles River is an early‑stage contract research organisation (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non‑GLP to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness and increases speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in 20 countries around the globe we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our clients’ unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of peoples lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well‑being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.

At Charles River Laboratories we recognise and recruit all talent. We are a company committed to the principle of diversity and inclusion and work daily in this direction.

Key Skills

• Account Payable
• Invoicing
• Journal Entry
• Data Entry
• Accounting & Finance
• Tax Returns
• QuickBooks
• General Ledger Accounting
• Microsoft Excel
• Reporting
• Payroll
• Financial statement
• Account Receivable
• ACCA
• CPA

Employment Type: Full Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1