Group Accountant Officer

Sightsavers; Haywards Heath; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Sightsavers is seeking a Group Accounting Officer to join our Finance team. You’ll support reconciliations, month-end processes, statutory accounts preparation and external audit support within an international charity context.

The role covers balance sheet and P&L reconciliations, CRM-finance interface management, and reporting for entities including the Lions Club and a trading company. Experience in charity accounting is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a finance or accounting role.
• Experience preparing and reviewing balance sheet reconciliations.
• Experience supporting month-end and year-end financial processes.
• Good understanding of accounting principles and financial controls.

Responsibilities

• Support the preparation and maintenance of accurate financial records, ensuring income and liabilities are correctly recorded and reconciled.
• Assist with the preparation of statutory accounts and support external audit processes.
• Contribute to the monthly close process, including transaction analysis and journal preparation.
• Take ownership of monthly reconciliations for balance sheet and profit and loss accounts, maintaining appropriate supporting documentation.
• Manage the CRM to finance system interface, resolving errors and processing recoding requirements.
• Take ownership of Group Accounting service desk queries and tickets.
• Oversee accounting activities relating to the Lions Club, including monthly CRM uploads and reporting.
• Manage the accounting requirements of the Trading Company, including statutory accounts preparation and gift aid processes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Understanding of accounting principles

Problem solving

Education

Part-qualified ACCA/CIMA/ACA or equivalent

Tools

CRM systems

Accounting software

Job description

Remote, UK (with occasional travel to our Haywards Heath office)

£31,000 to £37,000 per annum, depending on experience

About the role

Working closely with the Group Accounting Manager, you'll support a broad range of accounting activities, including reconciliations, month-end processes, statutory accounts preparation and external audit support. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional looking to build their accounting experience within an international charity and make a meaningful impact.

Responsibilities

• Support the preparation and maintenance of accurate financial records, ensuring income and liabilities are correctly recorded and reconciled.
• Assist with the preparation of statutory accounts and support external audit processes.
• Contribute to the monthly close process, including transaction analysis and journal preparation.
• Take ownership of monthly reconciliations for balance sheet and profit and loss accounts, maintaining appropriate supporting documentation.
• Manage the CRM to finance system interface, resolving errors and processing recoding requirements.
• Take ownership of Group Accounting service desk queries and tickets.
• Oversee accounting activities relating to the Lions Club, including monthly CRM uploads and reporting.
• Manage the accounting requirements of the Trading Company, including statutory accounts preparation and gift aid processes.

This is a varied and involved role and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills. Please see the Job Description for full details.

Jobholder Requirements

• Experience working in a finance or accounting role.
• Experience preparing and reviewing balance sheet reconciliations.
• Experience supporting month-end and year-end financial processes.
• Good understanding of accounting principles and financial controls.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate financial records.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Part-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• Experience supporting statutory accounts preparation and external audits.
• Experience working with integrated finance and CRM systems.
• Experience of accounting for trading companies and gift aid processes.
• Experience working within the charity or not-for-profit sector.

At Sightsavers, we work in more than 30 countries across Africa and South Asia to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote the rights of people with disabilities. We are now looking for a Group Accounting Officer to join our Finance team and help ensure the accuracy, integrity and timely reporting of financial information across our organisation.

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader, and qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply. We have zero tolerance for harassment, sexual exploitation, abuse and safeguarding misconduct. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.