Financial Accountant

Lockton Companies; England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Lockton Companies is seeking a Senior Financial Accountant to strengthen the Europe Finance team. The role focuses on ledger accuracy, month-end close, and partnering with non-UK teams to report numbers.

You will ensure timely management information, support senior management, and contribute to the ERP implementation and automation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Strong academic background with A levels.
• Degree level education preferred, but not essential.
• Qualified accountant: ACA / ACCA / CIMA.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate ledgers and ensure journals are posted per policy.
• Ensure completeness and accuracy of revenue postings with business partners.
• Control high-risk balance sheet areas; prepare reconciliations and analyses.
• Liaise with external auditors and external financial support services.
• Capitalize internally developed software; manage accruals and prepayments.
• Suggest improvements to management information and deliver high-quality solutions.
• Prepare statutory accounts for a subset of entities per UK GAAP/IFRS.

Skills

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Financial reporting

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified

Degree preferred

A levels

Tools

Excel

Job description

Purpose of the role

The role is in the Europe Finance team, with a focus on;

• Maintaining strong financial control of the general ledger, accurate and timely management information
• Active involvement in the month end close, ensuring revenue and costs are correctly recorded within the specified deadlines.
• Ensuring that the Senior Management are effectively supported by the Finance department
• Timely and accurate analysis of the P&L and movements in certain balance sheet accounts
• Liaising with non-UK European finance teams to assist in reporting of their numbers
• Supporting the Group Finance team with technical accounting issues and implementation of new accounting standards.
• Responsibility for controlling the ledger of one non-UK trading entity, including business partnering with key stakeholders, submitting regulatory returns and preparation of management accounts.
• Reviewing and approving journals produced by the offshore shared services centre
• Managing and liaising with offshore team to further improve efficiencies
• Proactive involvement in implementing our new state of the art ERP system, finding opportunities to improve processes and implement automation

Key responsibilities of the role

Financial Accounting and Control

• Maintenance of accurate ledgers and ensuring journals are raised in line with policies
• Working with business partners to ensure completeness and accuracy of revenue postings
• Control certain high risk balance sheet areas, production of reconciliations and analytical information to ensure appropriate treatments
• Liaison with external auditors throughout the audit process, as well as external financial support services
• Capitalisation of internally developed software and management of accruals and prepayments,
• Proactive in suggesting improvements in current management information and working with business, IT, other teams, and finance to deliver high quality solutions to meet business needs
• Responsibility for the preparation of statutory accounts for a small number of entities, in accordance with GAAP including supporting schedules for trial balance

Management Reporting

• Develop strong relationships with relevant stakeholders both within the wider Finance function and the wider business
• Maintain in depth knowledge of the business profile and the wider industry
• Production of timely & accurate management information, including detailed analysis and commentary which are clearly communicated to wider finance team
• Preparation of management accounts including the posting of journal adjustments to our newly implemented financial accounting system, with a mindset of identifying flaws and proposing opportunities to improve the user experience for future roll outs.

Qualifications / Educational Requirements

• Good academic background, with strong A levels
• Educated to degree standard – preferable, but not essential
• Qualified accountant: ACA / ACCA / CIMA

Relevant Experience

• Accounting and finance related experience gained in industry or in practice
• Experience of preparing a set of financial statements in accordance with UK GAAP or IFRS
• Excellent analytical and relationship building skills
• Ability to thrive in a finance transformational environment and ability to adapt to changes
• Demonstrate controls-based mindset
• Hands-on, solutions-focused approach
• Open to challenge the status quo and where appropriate, develop rounded solutions
• Investigative nature with the desire to learn and improve
• Proven ability to drive changes and implement new policies / processes
• Demonstrate ability to work well as a team
• Experience of working in a high paced deadline driven environment
• Preferable exposure to Financial Services but strong Non-Financial Services considered
• Intermediate to Advanced Excel skills