Group Accountant

Hands On Rother Ltd.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Company pension

GP access

Employee discounts

Job summary

Mecsia is a fast-growing UK group backed by private equity, seeking a Group Accountant to develop and roll out the group finance policy across current and future acquisitions.

You will support the GFC in implementing a standard chart of accounts, drive consolidation accuracy, and improve reporting and compliance across multiple entities within the group.

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant (ACA or equivalent) with minimum 3 years post qualified experience.
• Excellent knowledge of UKGAAP and IFRS, consolidation and statutory accounting.
• Able to implement robust reporting controls across a growing group.

Responsibilities

• Review Head Office monthly management accounts and prepare Group Consolidation and Consolidated Cashflow.
• Ensure accuracy of intercompany balances and consolidated procedures.
• Lead month end close, balance sheet reconciliations, and reporting to Group Head of FP&A.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Financial reporting

Education

ACA or equivalent

Tools

Konsolidator

IFRS expertise

Group consolidation

Job description

Mecsia is a leading UK provider of technical inspection, maintenance, and engineering services, aiming to transform the industry with a 'Local Service, National Reach' approach. The company has grown significantly through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, including seven business units serving large clients in different sectors including Commercial offices, healthcare and educational facilities. Under private equity ownership since 2020, Mecsia has expanded to approximately 1,600 employees, including 900 engineers. In 2024, Mecsia was acquired by Synova, recognised as PE house of the year for four of the last seven years, who supports an ambitious growth strategy through service excellence and further acquisitions.

About the Role

The Group Accountant (GA) role will work with the GFC to support the development of the Mecsia Group Finance Function and a leading financial control environment in a fast growing PE backed business.

The role is a great canvas for the GA to make their impact as to date several companies have been purchased and are currently not fully integrated with local teams (including Finance) running operations for each business unit. The GA will play a key role in supporting the GFC to evaluate all the group companies and develop and roll out the Mescia Group Finance policy manual consistently across current companies and future acquisitions.

We are seeking an individual with a high EQ and ability to execute the implementation of the financial accounting and reporting agenda across the Group with charm and diplomacy.

Key Responsibilities

Management Accounts

Support the GFC on:

Review of the Head Office Companies’ monthly management accounts

Preparation of the Group Consolidation and Group Consolidated Cashflow which are always audit ready and aligned with the financial standards followed by the Group

Ensuring the completeness and accuracy of all consolidation procedures including Intercompany balances and transactions matrix across the group

The month end process from the start through to close of accounts and handover completed accounts and cash flows to the Group Head of FP&A for reporting and commentary.

Development of new reporting formats and system developments, to drive improved compliance and efficiency such as the implementation of Konsolidator and the Consolidated Cashflow template

The monthly balance sheet review and output of the Group subsidiaries and challenging accounting treatment, resolving issues picked up in the timetabled balance sheet reconciliations and managing the risks and opportunities on the balance sheet through the course of the financial year

Educating and driving consistency across all business units in use of chart of accounts, accounting policies, processes for example the Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme

Ensuring necessary regulatory submissions and payments are made (VAT, PAYE, CT, ONS etc) for the Head Office Companies as well as supporting Individual Entities

Management Accounts

Support the GFC on:

Review of the Head Office Companies’ monthly management accounts

Preparation of the Group Consolidation and Group Consolidated Cashflow which are always audit ready and aligned with the financial standards followed by the Group

Ensuring the completeness and accuracy of all consolidation procedures including Intercompany balances and transactions matrix across the group

The month end process from the start through to close of accounts and handover completed accounts and cash flows to the Group Head of FP&A for reporting and commentary.

Development of new reporting formats and system developments, to drive improved compliance and efficiency such as the implementation of Konsolidator and the Consolidated Cashflow template

The monthly balance sheet review and output of the Group subsidiaries and challenging accounting treatment, resolving issues picked up in the timetabled balance sheet reconciliations and managing the risks and opportunities on the balance sheet through the course of the financial year

Educating and driving consistency across all business units in use of chart of accounts, accounting policies, processes for example the Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme

Ensuring necessary regulatory submissions and payments are made (VAT, PAYE, CT, ONS etc) for the Head Office Companies as well as supporting Individual Entities

Statutory Accounts

Support the group audit process. Work directly with the external audit team, providing them with high quality information, to ensure the audit is completed on time, coordinating with all subsidiary teams in scope

Support the preparation and review of accurate and timely annual UK statutory company and consolidated financial accounts (including income statement, balance sheet, cash flow and notes to the financial statements) ensuring they are completed and filed on time

Prepare technically sound accounting papers to support technical matters arising during the audit and technical accounting matters relating to new and existing transactions undertaken by the Group

Support on the detail review of accurate and timely Corporate Tax computations for all companies across the group ensuring they are completed and filed on time

Technical Accounting

Strong, up-to-date knowledge of accounting standards

Provide best in class technical accounting advice to the local finance teams through written technical accounting papers and clear communication.

Support the identification and mitigation of accounting risks across the Group including those that arise on commercial decisions. The Group has the potential to be x5 our size in the next 4yrs and currently operating under UKGAAP but in the future may move to IFRS

Support in integrating all existing and newly acquired companies across the Group through use of a standard chart of accounts, creation, implementation and maintenance of a Group policy manual and control framework and where appropriate migration of accounting systems

Ability to understand and support on acquisition accounting and drive the financial integration of new businesses into a Mecsia standard approach (once designed) and to work with vendor advisers to finalise completion accounts and tax comps

Ability to perform a financial consolidation of multiple entities

Keep up to date with business activities in order to relate them to accounting

Coach and build skills in-house to reduce need for external advice and support

Strong technical knowledge of IFRS 16 and implementation, understanding how to consolidate lease data across the Group and work closely with the Operations teams to maintain updated data in order to report accurately on an annual basis.

Transactional Finance

Drive and support local transactional accounting teams ensuring their processes fit into the overall control framework and enable a smooth management accounts cycle

Approach all tasks with an improvement mindset and have enthusiasm for change to ensure continuous evolution of our processes, controls and systems as the business gears up and grows.

Ability to identify efficiencies through automation, use of technology and centralisation of processes to achieve improved reporting timelines

Support the development of a professional and high performing finance function as the business grows, through coaching and clear communication

Support the group banking facilities and all treasury activities to include cash flow management and production of 18 week cash flow forecasts.

Finance team development

Manage Head Office Accountant through technical support and coaching

Key Skills & Experience

Qualified Accountant (ACA or equivalent) with minimum 3 years post qualified experience

Excellent knowledge of UKGAAP and IFRS, consolidation and statutory accounting

Excellent understanding of processes and controls to implement across the group to enable robust financial reporting

Proven ability to deliver monthly consolidated financial reporting packs

Able to demonstrate excellent analytical skills and an ability to explain complex requirements and processes to others in a coherent way

Results driven with the ability to deliver to tight deadlines in a fast-paced business

Preferred:

Worked in a group function and ensuring adherence by companies to the group policies and processes

Experience of the implementation of new accounting systems

Experience of working in an acquisitive PE backed business

Experience of working in a leveraged environment

Experience of working in a multi-site business

Understanding and experience of long term contracts and accounting for WIP

What we Offer

70K salary for 1 year FTC (with potential opportunity for it to become permanent)

Enjoy 25 days of holiday, plus bank holidays

Contribute to the Company Pension Scheme

Wellbeing benefits include 24/7 access to a GP

Employee discounts i.e. gym memberships, high street shops

Individual recognition schemes with rewards

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, colour, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability.

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