Financial Accountant

Watson Farley & Williams; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Wellbeing package

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Watson Farley & Williams is seeking a maternity cover Financial Accountant in London to oversee month-end close, balance sheet integrity and year-end audit activities across international offices.

The role reports to the Financial Controller within the Global Finance team and requires strong accounting skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fixed-term handover period.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with strong financial accounting, month-end close, balance sheet reconciliation and audit experience.
• Experience working with international stakeholders, external auditors and finance systems teams.
• Ability to become effective quickly, manage deadlines, document key processes clearly and maintain momentum in a fixed-term handover environment.

Responsibilities

• Month-end reporting and controls: own key month-end processes incl. payroll, intercompany balances, reconciliations, consolidations and cashflow.
• Year-end accounts and audit delivery: coordinate audits across the Global Finance team and offices, maintain robust reconciliations.
• Compliance, tax and international support: prepare VAT returns, tax work and intercompany invoicing across offices.

Skills

Financial accounting

Month-end close

Balance sheet reconciliation

Audit experience

Intercompany accounting

Education

Chartered Accountant

ACCA

Tools

ERP systems

Finance software

Job description

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is a sector-focused international law firm with extensive expertise and industry insight across its core sectors of energy, infrastructure and transport. Through its network of 19 offices, the firm advises clients on complex, high-value transactions and disputes – matters requiring precise legal execution and a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.

The firm’s success is driven by its people. It fosters a collaborative, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow, share ideas and make an impact. Guided by its values –We are experts, We are united and We care – the firm delivers exceptional service through strong relationships and teamwork. The firm is committed to clear career paths, championing diversity and investing in its people so they can thrive.

Role overview

This one-year maternity cover role provides continuity across core global finance activities, with responsibility for maintaining the quality, timeliness and control of month end reporting, balance sheet integrity and year end audit delivery. Reporting to the Financial Controller within the London based Global Finance team, the role will take ownership of established financial accounting processes, support a smooth handover and ensure finance outputs remain accurate, well controlled and decision useful across international offices during the cover period.

Key activities/responsibilities

Month-end reporting and controls

• Own key month-end financial accounting processes, including payroll accounting, intercompany balances, balance sheet reconciliations, consolidated balance sheet reporting and cashflow preparation.
• Ensure management accounts outputs are accurate, clearly reconciled and delivered to timetable, with a focus on improving reporting quality and close efficiency.
• Support targeted improvements to automation, presentation and consistency of recurring management reporting where these can be delivered within the fixed-term period.

Year-end accounts and audit delivery

• Coordinate audit requirements across the Global Finance team and international offices, ensuring requests are owned, tracked and resolved in a timely manner.
• Prepare robust year-end balance sheet reconciliations, support financial statement preparation and maintain constructive, responsive relationships with external auditors.
• Take ownership of trial balances for smaller offices and support relevant accounting changes, including FRS 102 revenue and lease accounting, with clear documentation for continuity.

Compliance, tax and international support

• Prepare and review financial data for VAT returns, government surveys, tax return workings and intercompany invoicing across international offices.
• Partner with office accountants and office heads to resolve reconciliation challenges in areas such as withholding tax, VAT and intercompany issues, escalating risks and control gaps where required.
• Perform regular reviews of significant balance sheet accounts and support ad hoc finance projects that improve process quality, compliance and operational effectiveness.

Success during the one-year cover

• Month-end and year-end deliverables continue to be completed to timetable, with strong reconciliations, fewer follow-up queries and clear ownership across offices.
• Audit delivery is well controlled, with requests tracked effectively, evidence provided promptly and international stakeholders aligned on responsibilities.
• Recurring reporting and finance processes remain stable, with practical improvements delivered where they support continuity, control and an effective hand back at the end of the cover period.

Skills and experience – desired

• Qualified accountant with strong financial accounting, month-end close, balance sheet reconciliation and audit experience.
• Confident working with international stakeholders, external auditors and finance systems teams, with strong attention to detail and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Able to become effective quickly, manage competing deadlines, document key processes clearly and maintain momentum through a fixed-term handover environment.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

Additional information

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Equal opportunities

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm’s strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment.

As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact [e-mail] .