Financial & Commercial Accountant - Water & Heat

ESP Utilities Group Ltd; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the utilities sector is seeking a Financial & Commercial Accountant to join their expanding finance team. This role entails supporting accurate financial processes within the water business and preparing for the upcoming heat segment. The ideal candidate will be a qualified ACA/ACCA accountant, skilled in financial analysis, IT, and Excel, with strong problem-solving capabilities, able to manage multiple tasks.

Qualifications

• At least 2-3 years PQE experience.
• Experience in water or heat utilities or consumer billing is ideal but not essential.
• Ability to create processes, workflows, and reporting from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Ensure revenue and cost recognition within the water business is accurate.
• Prepare ad hoc internal reports.
• Assist in setting up heat billing ahead of consumers going live.

Skills

Financial accounting

IT skills

Excel

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Qualified ACA/ACCA accountant

Job description

Financial & Commercial Accountant - Water & Heat

Financial & Commercial Accountant - Water & Heat

This is a new role within the Group's established Finance team of 12 members.

ESP Waters' first customers came on supply in 2023, and due to rapid growth, an accountant is needed to support this expansion. ESP Heat is a newly launched segment, with its first customers expected in 2026/7.

Role Purpose

To expand and develop the existing accounting processes and analysis for the water business, and later for the new heat business. To provide meaningful management information within the business to support the ongoing development of the commercial proposition.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure revenue and cost recognition within the water business is accurate.
• Set up and maintain robust reconciliation for water in/out.
• Provide meaningful P&L analysis at a site level.
• Assist Pricing with review of cost assumptions.
• Handle Ofwat financial reporting.
• Oversee third-party white label billing provider, ensuring all reporting is accurate and reconciles.
• Prepare ad hoc internal reports.
• Assist in setting up heat billing ahead of consumers going live, then perform all of the above for heat as the business grows.

Key Skills

• Qualified ACA/ACCA accountant.
• At least 2-3 years PQE experience.
• Technically strong in IT, Excel, and financial accounting.
• Experience in water or heat utilities, or consumer billing, is ideal but not essential.

Person Specification

• Self-starter able to problem-solve and apply initiative to create processes, workflows, and reporting from scratch.
• Able to manage multiple work streams concurrently.
• Confident communicator, experienced in interacting at all levels within the business.