Cost Accountant (Fixed-Term, 12 Months)

AXA Partners; Redhill; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

25 days annual leave

Retail Discounts

Company Shareplan/ Scheme & Loan

Cycle2Work Scheme

Discounted Home Insurance

Employee Assistance Scheme

Dr@Hand

Discounted Gym Membership

Free Financial Education

Job summary

AXA Partners in the United Kingdom is seeking a newly qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA cost accountant on a 12-month fixed-term contract. You will lead month-end close, post journals, reconcile accounts, and analyze cost reports to support management decisions.

Payroll accounting and variances explanations are key parts of the role. You will work with the FP&A team on budgets and forecasts, ensuring audit readiness and clear board-level reporting.

Qualifications

• Newly qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA accountant with relevant experience.
• High integrity, professionalism and confidentiality with sensitive data.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret financial data and spot discrepancies.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Effective communicator who translates complex financial information clearly.
• Proactive team player with collaborative approach and willingness to improve.
• Adaptable in a dynamic environment with multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate month-end closing within a 5-day timeframe.
• Prepare, review, and post journals; reconcile accounts for accuracy.
• Analyze quarterly cost reports to support management decisions within 10 days.
• Manage payroll accounting including wages, deductions and benefits.
• Explain variances between P&L and Balance Sheet related to cost base.
• Handle large datasets with auditable transaction trails.
• Support audit readiness with transparent, compliant financial results.
• Prepare board packs for CFO presentations with FP&A on budgets and forecasts.

Skills

Cost accounting

Financial analysis

Journal postings

Regulatory awareness

Attention to detail

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Tools

FCA reporting

Job description

Join Our Finance Team as a Cost Accountant – Drive Accuracy and Insight in Financial Reporting! (12-month fixed-term contract)

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and coordinate the month-end closing process, ensuring completion within a 5-day timeframe.
• Prepare, review, and post journal entries; reconcile accounts to maintain data accuracy.
• Analyze quarterly cost reports, providing insights to support management decision-making within a 10-day window.
• Manage payroll accounting, including wages, deductions, and benefits, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
• Develop a strong understanding of the cost base, explaining variances between P&L and Balance Sheet.
• Handle large datasets with meticulous attention to detail, maintaining an auditable trail of transactions.
• Support audit readiness by producing transparent, compliant, and auditable financial results.
• Prepare board packs for CFO presentations and collaborate with the FP&A team on budgets and forecasts.

What you’ll bring

• Newly qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA accountant with relevant experience.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality in handling sensitive data.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and identify discrepancies.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills to meet tight deadlines.
• Effective communicator who can translate complex financial information clearly.
• Proactive team player with a collaborative approach and a willingness to challenge and improve.
• Adaptability to work efficiently in a dynamic environment with multiple priorities.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks such as FCA reporting, SM&CR, and Consumer Duty is a plus.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

What We Offer

At AXA Partners, we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• Competitive Salary
• 25 days rising to a maximum of 27 days (based on a 5 day week)
• Retail Discounts
• Company Shareplan /Scheme & Loan
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Discounted Home Insurance
• Employee Assistance Scheme
• Dr@Hand
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Free Financial Education/Pension Seminars

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, please send an email to AXA Partners Global HR Response - [e-mail]

Who We Are

We’re AXA Partners, experts at designing and delivering assistance solutions and specialised insurance, credit, and lifestyle protection – with and for our partners worldwide. What sets us apart? The expertise and passion of our 8,500+ people, and a strong network of over 55,000 professionals all over the world. Powered by them and our sector-leading technology, we continuously evolve, adapt and thrive – offering solutions and services that make sure we’re always at people’s side, no matter what. Helping others is our passion. Combining the best digital technology with our warm, human touch, we’re always looking at new ways to offer seamless and reassuring experiences when it really matters.

Join a company that helps protect the forests! At AXA Partners, we plant a tree for every new recruit (with a permanent contract)