Cost Accountant

Royal London; Alderley Edge; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mutual life and pensions company in Alderley Park is seeking a Cost Accountant to ensure the integrity of operating costs. With a hybrid working model, the successful candidate will support high-quality cost reporting and work closely with finance teams. Key qualifications include a solid understanding of accounting principles and strong Excel skills. This role comes with enhanced benefits, including up to 14% employer matching pension and 28 days annual leave, emphasizing a supportive and inclusive work culture.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Up to 14% employer matching pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of accounting principles.
• Experience in cost accounting is beneficial.
• Ability to improve spreadsheet documents.

Responsibilities

• Ensure integrity of costs through month-end reporting.
• Oversee cost accounting and effective reporting.
• Engage with stakeholders to improve cost accounting.

Skills

Accounting principles

Strong Excel skills

Relationship management

Communication skills

Education

Newly qualified accountant

Job description

Job Title: Cost Accountant

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Alderley Park

Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based

Closing date: 5th January 2026

Join our Group Finance team as a Cost Accountant, where you'll play a key role in ensuring the integrity of the UK Trading company's operating cost position. This is an exciting opportunity to support our business with high-quality cost reporting, drive improvements in group-wide accounting, and act as a key point of contact for finance enquiries. You'll be at the heart of initiatives to enhance cost reporting quality and support strategic projects that make a real impact across Royal London.

About the role

• Provide financial management and integrity of costs (BAU and Change), ensuring fit-for-purpose month-end reporting and continuous improvement in group-wide accounting and reporting.
• Oversee appointed cost areas, working closely with Cost Accounting and Business Finance teams to ensure accurate accounting and effective reporting.
• Proactively engage with stakeholders to improve the quality of cost accounting and reporting, offering guidance and education on cost processes.
• Support and direct team resources to deliver improvements, including documentation, benefit realisation and post-implementation reviews.
• Develop strong working relationships across Group Finance, Group Programme Office and supported business areas.
• Ensure business risks are understood, controlled and mitigated, supporting senior leaders in embedding risk management practices.
• Recognised as a subject matter expert (SME) in cost accounting.

About you

• Newly qualified accountant with a solid understanding of accounting principles.
• Previous experience in cost accounting is beneficial but not essential.
• Strong Excel skills, including formulas and pivot tables, with the ability to improve spreadsheet documents.
• Flexible, self-motivated and proactive, with a drive to challenge the status quo and make improvements.
• Confident communicator with strong relationship management skills, able to work effectively with finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Organised and able to prioritise to meet tight deadlines in a complex environment.

About Royal London

We're the UK's largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.

We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance. You can see all our benefits here - Our Benefits.

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We're an Inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected - whatever their background.