Financial Accountant - Systems and Data

Close Brothers Group; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK merchant banking group is seeking a Finance professional to maintain key financial controls and prepare critical external reporting. This role involves resolving system issues, performing reconciliations, and ensuring compliance with governance standards. The ideal candidate is a fully or part-qualified accountant with strong IT skills, particularly in Excel, and has experience in stakeholder management. The position offers a flexible working arrangement, aligning with the group's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Private medical

Discounted health checks

Stakeholder pension contribution

Cycle to work scheme

Gym discounts

Purchase additional holiday

Qualifications

• Experience in financial analysis and reporting.
• Exposure to financial reconciliations involving large volumes of data.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit quarterly reporting.
• Perform system reconciliations and resolve discrepancies.
• Ensure compliance with governance and reporting standards.

Skills

Fully or part-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent)

Advanced IT skills (strong MS Excel, optionally SQL and Power BI)

Strong stakeholder management skills

Ability to work independently and prioritize

Tools

ALFA lease management system

Tableau

Power BI

VBA

Job description

The Vacancy

At Close Brothers we look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don't tick every box. We celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity. Vacancies are available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis because we know the best person for the job isn't always available full-time. Our aim is to facilitate requests wherever possible and managers will consider requests on an individual basis.

Join the Close Brothers Finance Team where you will maintain the key financial controls, the preparation of critical external reporting and providing strong service to internal customers. Working as part of the Finance team our ideal team member will have previous experience in being accountable for resolving system issues and supporting on any developments of the back-office system with an excellent analytical ability and a strong attention to detail.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Preparing and submitting the quarterly BIP and SLF reporting for CBILS / BBLS / RLS agreements to the BBB.
• Perform key balance sheet reconciliations involving the lending system ALFA.
• Perform system reconciliations and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Periodically test and challenge all system calculations and controls.
• Develop a full understanding of the CBILS / RLS products, including understanding the way the product is managed in the back-office system, the controls in place and the reporting requirements.
• Work with the various Ops and Collections teams to help explain and resolve CBILS / BBLS / RLS exceptions, as well as other system breaks.
• Ensure that all Governance and Compliance needs are adhered to and all reporting and reviewing activities required by the Regulatory Bodies are carried out to the standards needed.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE/ARE:

• Fully or part-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent)
• Advanced IT skills (strong MS Excel, optionally SQL and Power BI)
• Evidence of taking ownership and adding value
• Strong stakeholder management skills; able to convey technical requirements at all levels of the organisation
• The ability to work and prioritise independently and with the judgement to involve management with issues as needed

IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE:

• A background in asset finance and leasing or related field
• Exposure to ALFA lease management system
• Worked in financial analysis and reporting
• Exposure to financial reconciliations involving large volumes of data
• Basic programming skills; SQL and/or VBA
• Experience with Tableau or Power BI or Alteryx

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We recognise that candidates may have specific needs that require adjustments to ensure they have a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities. Candidates who require the job description or application form in an alternative format, or any other adjustments, are encouraged to email us at [e-mail] or request a call back.

ABOUT US

At Close Brothers we support employees to balance their work life priorities and in this role you will be able to enjoy a mixture of hybrid working.

Close Brothers is a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking and securities trading. We employ approximately 3,000 people, principally in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Close Brothers Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250.

To find out more about Close Brothers, please visit our careers page:

https://www.closebrothers.com/careers

To find out more about life at Close Brothers:

https://www.closebrothers.com/life-close-brothers#374017299-899295541

To find out more about our benefits:

https://www.closebrothers.com/employee-benefits

To find out more about our commitment to creating an inclusive environment:

Our Responsibility - Diversity and inclusion / Close Brothers Group

#LI-TM1 #LI-HYBRID

The Company

At Close Brothers Group, we are all connected by our mission to be the best place in the UK for wealth professionals and their clients.

We believe that everyone should think ahead, have a financial plan and invest wisely. Our clients are professionals, business owners, individuals, charities, families, and employers, who rely on our clear financial advice and investment management services to preserve and grow their long-term savings and investments.

We are a team of about 900 people based in 15 offices across the UK. Our geographic footprint means we can combine a local approach with face-to-face services to enable strong, long-term relationships with our clients.

Sustainability is fundamental to our purpose and we have a responsibility to help address the social, economic and environmental challenges facing our business, colleagues and clients. We strive to do the right thing and are dedicated to helping the charities that matter most to our people.

Our vision is to develop an open and inclusive company that ensures everyone is valued, respected and included, so that in years to come our business will represent a diverse and inclusive workforce from the top down.

We look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds. If this job is of interest to you but you do not meet every criteria then we encourage you still to apply as we are open to providing training opportunities.

The Benefits

• Private medical
• Discounted health checks
• Stakeholder pension contribution
• Cycle to work scheme
• Gym discounts
• Purchase additional holiday