Financial Accountant - Flight Operations

easyJet; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 20%

Pension 7%

Medical cash plan

Staff travel benefits

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Holiday credit

Job summary

easyJet is seeking a qualified Financial Accountant for Flight Operations (Disruption, Fuel & Carbon) to own the end-to-end accounting and reporting for major cost areas. You will lead monthly close, coordinate with Finance, Operations, Treasury and Legal, and provide insights to support decision-making.

You will partner with senior stakeholders, manage balance sheet controls, and drive improvements in reporting and processes while supporting internal and external audits.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with experience in a large, complex and fast-paced business environment.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge across balance sheet, P&L and cash flow, with ability to explain movements to stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience handling large datasets; experience with Planning Analytics is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly close process for disruption, fuel and carbon cost areas.
• Own balance sheet reconciliations and ensure substantiation and controls.
• Explain key financial movements, risks and accounting judgements.
• Monitor accounting standards and legislation affecting fuel, disruption and carbon accounting.
• Prepare technical accounting papers and recommendations for complex matters.
• Manage audit activity and serve as liaison for internal and external auditors.
• Coach and review outputs from the team and provide support as needed.
• Deliver variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year.
• Present findings and risks to senior stakeholders, including Directors.
• Drive process improvements to reporting, controls and efficiency.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Excel expertise

Planning Analytics (adv)

Education

Professional qualification (ACCA/ACA/CIMA)

Tools

Planning Analytics

Job description

We are easyJet – a FTSE listed, £multi-billion low-cost airline that serves tens of millions of customers every single year. If you’re reading this, you have probably already been an easyJet customer, and you’ll know that there is no more iconic (or Orange!) travel brand in Europe.

We fly more than 1,207 routes, connecting 38 countries across Europe, and employ more than 18,000 colleagues. We’re on a mission to make low-cost travel easy – and whatever your role here, you’ll connect millions of people to what they love using Europe’s best airline network, great value fares, and friendly service.

What makes us easyJet? Our Promise Behaviours - we are Safe, Bold, Welcoming and Challenging. Four Behaviours. One Spirit. One easyJet.

READ ON IF YOU

• Are a qualified accountant with experience working in a large, complex and fast-paced business environment.
• Enjoy combining technical accounting expertise with continuous improvement.
• Have strong analytical skills and can translate complex financial information into clear insights for stakeholders.
• Can be in our fantastic Luton head office 3 x per week.

THE TEAM

Our Finance team plays a vital role in supporting easyJet's continued growth and success. Working at the heart of the business, you'll join a team of detail-focused problem-solvers responsible for managing billions of pounds of assets while balancing service, value and operational excellence. It's a fast-moving environment where every day brings new challenges and opportunities to make a real impact.

THE ROLE

As Financial Accountant - Flight Operations (Disruption, Fuel & Carbon), you'll take ownership of the end-to-end financial accounting and reporting process for some of the airline's most significant cost areas.

You'll lead monthly financial close activities, ensuring accuracy, control and timely reporting across disruption, fuel and carbon accounting. Acting as a trusted finance partner, you'll work closely with stakeholders across Finance, Operations, Treasury, Legal and Group Reporting while providing insight and expertise to support business decision-making.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading the monthly close process, including accruals, prepayments, provisions, journals and financial review activities.
• Owning balance sheet reconciliations and ensuring all accounts are fully substantiated and compliant with control requirements.
• Investigating and explaining key financial movements, risks and accounting judgements.
• Monitoring emerging accounting standards and legislation relating to fuel, disruption and carbon accounting.
• Preparing technical accounting papers and recommendations for complex or evolving accounting matters.
• Managing audit activity for your areas of responsibility and acting as the key contact for internal and external auditors.
• Supervising and reviewing accounting outputs from the wider team, providing coaching and support where required.
• Delivering insightful variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year performance.
• Presenting findings, risks and recommendations to senior stakeholders, including Directors.
• Driving process improvements and identifying opportunities to enhance reporting, controls and efficiency.

What We're Looking For

• Qualified accountant.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge with the ability to interpret complexity across the balance sheet, profit and loss account, and cash flow.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to communicate and challenge at all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to explain financial concepts clearly to non-finance audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality outputs to tight deadlines.
• A proactive and self-motivated approach with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Experience supervising, reviewing or supporting the development of others.
• Advanced Excel skills, including experience working with large datasets. Knowledge of Planning Analytics would be advantageous.
• A collaborative approach and a genuine team mindset.

What You'll Get In Return

• Up to 20% maximum bonus.
• 7% pension contributions.
• Medical Cash Plan.
• Excellent staff travel benefits.
• 25 days of annual leave + bank holidays.
• Annual credit towards an easyJet holiday.
• Various flexible benefits and extras.

PRACTICALITIES

This full-time role will be based in Luton and will be 40 hours per week. We support hybrid working and we spend 60% of our time per month in the office.

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS

At easyJet, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse customers we serve across Europe. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. If you require specific adjustments or support during the application or recruitment process, such as extra time for assessments or accessible interview locations, please contact us at [e-mail]. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure accessibility and accommodation.

Primary Location

United Kingdom-London-London Luton Airport

Schedule

Full-time

Unposting Date

Ongoing