Capital Accountant

WH Smith PLC; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Swindon is seeking a Capital Accountant to join its Finance team. The role involves preparing monthly capital reporting, maintaining the fixed asset register, and ensuring accurate reconciliation delivery. Candidates should be a qualified accountant with strong analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel. The position offers a hybrid working model, competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits including a company pension scheme and annual bonus.

Benefits

Hybrid Working Model

4pm Friday Finish

Flexible Working

25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off

Company Pension scheme

Sharesave Scheme

Annual Bonus

Private Medical

Staff Discount Card

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant, or strong part-qualified accountant will also be considered.
• Excellent communicator with experience engaging with financial and non-financial managers.
• Keen eye for detail and accuracy, ensuring financial data is logical and informative.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly capital reporting on additions and depreciation.
• Maintain the fixed asset register and report accurate data.
• Ensure timely delivery of key reconciliations monthly.

Skills

Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA)

Experience within the retail industry

Excellent analytical skills

Strong user of Microsoft Excel

Education

ACCA, CIMA, ACA qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Capital Accountant to join our Finance team at our Support Centre in Swindon.

Responsibilities

• Preparing monthly capital reporting on additions and depreciation.
• Maintaining all elements of the fixed asset register. Partnering with various stakeholders, both within the business and external, to ensure that assets are reported accurately, under the correct project, location and category.
• Ensuring key reconciliation are delivered in an accurate and timely manner monthly.
• Challenging the status quo with a view to drive improvements within processes.
• Preparing depreciation forecasts in line with the group budget reporting requirements.
• Producing bi-annual reporting on capital at a statutory entity level for the group.
• Managing the bi-annual audit requirements for the area - completing group auditor requirements and resolving queries promptly.
• Providing ad-hoc reporting to various other internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Various accounting tasks managing the repairs and maintenance spend and capital allocations.

Qualifications

• A Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA). A strong part-qualified accountant will also be considered.
• Experience within the retail industry would prove a benefit. You can come from industry or practice, as long as you are an excellent communicator with proven experience; who can engage, communicate and influence with both financial and non-financial managers. Your planning and organisational skills will be excellent, and you’ll be able to prioritise a broad and extensive range of activities.
• You’ll have excellent analytical skills and a strong user of Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables, V‑Lookups and Sum Ifs. You will have core strength in financial accounting with the ability to interpret, reconcile and resolve problems at a granular level. You must have a keen eye for detail and accuracy, to ensure all financial data is summarised in a logical and informative manner appropriate for a variety of audiences.

Benefits

• Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday Finish
• Flexible Working
• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family Friendly Leave
• Company Pension scheme
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Competitive Salary and Car Allowance
• Private Medical
• Staff Discount Card for stores and online

About us

Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 5,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

Our UK Travel office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.

At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you‑you’re welcome here.

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know – we’re happy to help!