[FTC] Financial Accountant – Retail & E-commerce

JAC Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

JAC Recruitment seeks a hands-on Financial Accountant to lead UAT execution for SAP S/4HANA within EMEA retail and e-commerce finance operations on a 12-month fixed-term basis.

You will own test scopes, validate postings and consolidations, and coordinate with IT and BPO teams to ensure accurate data migration and timely sign-offs. The role requires five+ years in fashion retail finance and strong SAP, Excel, and English communications.

Qualifications

• At least five years of finance and accounting experience in fashion retail, including e-commerce.
• At least three years hands-on SAP experience for accounting, close and reporting; five+ years preferred.
• Experience in SAP S/4HANA preferred; ECC or other SAP ERP experience considered.
• Ability to navigate SAP and validate accounting results independently.
• Strong closing knowledge and group consolidation experience.
• Experience supporting external audits with audit-ready docs.
• High accuracy, ownership and detail, with tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication of accounting issues to finance/non-finance stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Professional working proficiency in English; international multi-entity experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own UAT scope for retail/e‑commerce accounting, collaborating with Senior Financial Accountant.
• Design and finalize test scenarios and scripts based on business requirements.
• Execute tests, validate SAP outputs against requirements, judge pass/fail decisions.
• Log defects and coordinate with IT/SI teams for resolution and retesting.
• Validate data migration items (opening balances, master data, mappings).
• Provide clear UAT status updates and escalate blockers when needed.
• Contribute to UAT sign-off decisions for assigned scope.
• Support hypercare after go-live and knowledge transfer for BPO training.
• Own month/quarter/year-end closings for fashion retail stores and e‑commerce.
• Prepare journal entries, accruals, provisions, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Ensure accurate accounting for sales, returns, discounts, inventory and costs.
• Investigate variances and coordinate corrective actions with stakeholders.
• Maintain accounting records and documentation per standards and policy.
• Prepare group reporting consolidation packages and intercompany eliminations.
• Assist with external audits and audit-ready documentation.

Skills

SAP S/4HANA

UAT Testing

Month-end close

Group Consolidation

Intercompany Reconciliation

Excel

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

SAP ECC

Job description

Summary Of Job Purpose

We are on a mission to drive and expand their global business and become the most iconic premium lifestyle brand. As part of our ongoing SAP (S/4HANA) implementation for EMEA retail and e-commerce finance operations, with UAT scheduled, we require a hands‑on Financial Accountant to join on a 1yr Fixed Term Contract basis.

Duties And Responsibilities

UAT Execution & SAP S/4HANA Validation

• Independently own an assigned portion of UAT scope, working at parity with the Senior Financial Accountant — not as a supporting tester, but as a co‑equal owner of test coverage for retail/e-commerce accounting flows (e.g., sales postings, returns, inventory movements, cost of sales, reconciliations, consolidation‑related data flows)
• Design and/or finalize test scenarios and scripts within assigned scope, based on business requirements, without requiring detailed instruction
• Execute test scenarios, validate SAP S/4HANA outputs against expected accounting treatment and group reporting requirements, and make independent judgment calls on pass/fail criteria
• Log, document and track defects/issues; directly coordinate with IT/SI teams on resolution and retesting within assigned scope
• Validate data migration items relevant to retail/e‑commerce (e.g., opening balances, master data, account mapping) within assigned scope
• Provide clear, concise UAT status updates and elevate only genuine blockers — not routine progress — to the Senior Financial Account
• Contribute to UAT sign‑off decisions for assigned scope

Post Go‑Live Transition

• Support hypercare activities following go‑live, helping stabilise BAU processes within the new SAP environment
• Support knowledge transfer/process documentation for BPO vendor training
• Support handover/transition at contract end depending on business needs at that time Financial Close & Retail Accounting
• Own month‑end, quarter‑end and year‑end closing activities for fashion retail stores and e-commerce operations
• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, provisions, prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations
• Ensure accurate accounting for sales, returns, discounts, inventory, cost of sales, payment fees and other retail or e‑commerce transactions
• Investigate variances and unusual balances, coordinate corrective actions and meet the group reporting timetable
• Maintain complete accounting records and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable standards and company policies

Consolidation & Group Reporting

• Prepare accurate and timely group reporting consolidation packages, including entity‑level data collection, consolidation adjustments and submission to regional/HQ reporting systems, in line with group accounting policies and deadlines
• Perform intercompany reconciliations and execute intercompany eliminations (e.g., intercompany sales, balances, profit‑in‑stock) as part of the consolidation process; support resolution of mismatches and consolidation adjustments
• Analyse movements in the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow and provide clear explanations to regional and group stakeholders
• Support statutory‑to‑group reporting alignment, including reporting adjustments and mapping

SAP S/4HANA, Controls & Process Improvement

• Use SAP (S/4HANA or equivalent SAP ERP, e.g., SAP ECC) to post, review and analyse accounting transactions and produce reliable financial reports
• Maintain data integrity, account mappings and reporting logic and troubleshoot system or interface issues with relevant teams
• Operate and enhance key financial controls, including review evidence, access discipline and segregation of duties
• Identify opportunities to standardise, automate and improve closing and reporting processes across retail and e‑commerce channels
• Collaborate with Finance, IT, BPO and operational stakeholders to resolve accounting and reporting issues

Your Experience – Must Have

• At least five years of finance and accounting experience in fashion retail, including e-commerce operations.
• At least three years of hands‑on experience using SAP for accounting transactions, month‑end and year‑end closing, reconciliations and financial reporting. Five or more years of SAP experience is preferred.
• Demonstrable experience participating in at least one SAP or equivalent ERP implementation, migration or formal UAT project. This must include hands‑on involvement in activities such as preparing or executing test scripts, validating system outputs, identifying and tracking defects, performing retesting and contributing to sign‑off decisions.
• The ability to independently navigate SAP and validate accounting results without requiring step‑by‑step guidance. Experience with SAP S/4HANA is preferred; experience with SAP ECC or another equivalent SAP ERP platform will also be considered.
• Strong accounting knowledge with practical experience in monthly and annual closing
• Hands‑on experience in group consolidation, including preparation of group reporting consolidation packages and execution of intercompany eliminations (e.g., intercompany sales/balances, unrealised profit elimination)
• Experience supporting external financial audits and preparing audit‑ready documentation
• Strong systems aptitude, with the ability to understand end‑to‑end data flows, identify root causes and resolve finance system or interface issues
• High level of accuracy, ownership and attention to detail, with the ability to deliver under tight closing deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills and the ability to communicate accounting matters clearly to finance and non‑finance stakeholders
• Advanced Excel and Microsoft Office skills
• Professional working proficiency in English; experience in an international, multi‑entity environment is strongly preferred

We regret to inform applicants that only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Thank you for your understanding.

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