Financial Accountant - FMCG/Media

Handle Recruitment; City Of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a qualified Financial Accountant to join a prominent FMCG and Media business in London. The role involves managing financial reporting, tax compliance, and support for audits. The ideal candidate will hold an ACA/ACCA qualification and possess strong self-organisation skills and proficiency in MS Office. This position offers a challenging and hands-on opportunity in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACA/ACCA accountant with experience in a relevant finance position.
• Ability to prepare and review high-level financial reports.
• Thorough understanding of accounting and tax compliance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely closing of monthly results and prepare reporting commentary packs.
• Assist in tax matters including Corporation Tax and VAT returns.
• Support Business Partners in financial reporting and tax treatment.

Skills

Qualified (ACA/ACCA)

Strong level of self-organisation

Advanced user of MS Office Excel

Experience with Corporation and VAT computations

Education

ACA/ACCA qualification

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Job description

Financial Accountant - FMCG/Media

Globally recognised FMCG and Media business are looking for an ACA/ACCA qualified Financial Accountant to join their London based team.

It is a challenging role which, from a Finance perspective, touches all areas of the business. You need to be comfortable managing your time, working to tight deadlines, and sometimes competing priorities. You should not fear rolling up your sleeves, be hands‑on, proactive and curious. You will take satisfaction from owning responsibility in your work, creating and managing a best practice environment and enjoying the variety and pace of workload.

This role will be assisting in the application and review of accounting standards and tax matters, including but not limited to the preparation of Corporation Tax and VAT returns. The role will involve review of control processes and company guidelines; assist with the external audit, internal audit and other external stakeholders as necessary.

Whilst the role is a supporting one, you will be expected to lead, obtaining direction to see your work through to completion. You will be an exceptional communicator, including verbal, written and through preparation of working documents.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Accounting & Tax Compliance

• Ensure a timely and organised closing of monthly results enabling the preparation of reporting commentary packs, providing decision makers the necessary information to plan future projects
• Review and posting of month end accruals and journals provided by Business Partners in other departments
• Completion of Balance Sheet Reconciliations
• Preparation of Corporation Tax returns, completing analysis of disallowable expenditure and reviews of capital allowances
• Preparation of VAT returns and any other taxes, arranging filing and payment before the due date
• Prepare Balance Sheet forecast during the company's planning cycles, and monitoring their accuracy monthly on an ongoing basis

Business Partnering

• Supporting Business Partners in Finance and Marketing in ensuring the correct Financial Reporting and Tax Treatment is followed
• Developing and driving a best practice culture financial control environment, implementing process improvements with a view of streamlining and improving accuracy of accounting operations and tax reporting
• Lead and support changes in internal controls and other project work where necessary

Audit

• Assisting the team in dealing with queries from the external auditors, whilst managing the documentation supply
• Assist the department and the business in dealing with queries from the internal audit team
• Preparing and reviewing the statutory financial statements to be prepared under IFRS and FRS102

Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Qualified (ACA/ACCA). We are looking for someone with curiosity that enjoys never settling
• Have a broad experience working in practice or transactional role in industry, looking to make the step into an interesting and fulfilling technical role
• Thorough understanding of accounting and tax basics and best practice controls and processes
• Experience with preparation of Corporation and VAT computations preferred
• Ability to create, prepare and review reports at a high level
• Strong level of self‑organisation
• Advanced user of MS Office Excel, Word and Outlook. Experience with other software and system is useful
• Experience of using SAP preferable but not a showstopper

Handle actively welcomes applicants from under‑represented backgrounds - we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent for every opportunity through a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.