Group Chief Accountant

National Grid; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Private medical insurance

Performance bonus

Job summary

National Grid plc in London seeks a Group Chief Accountant to lead external financial reporting, ESG disclosures, and treasury finance. You will manage a 20+ strong team, partner with the CFO and board-level stakeholders, and drive transformation in how we report and govern our numbers.

A Chartered Accountant with extensive post-qualification experience in group reporting and hedge accounting is required. You will influence senior leaders, oversee IFRS filings, engage with US GAAP where

Qualifications

• Qualified CA with extensive post-qualification experience in group financial reporting and hedge accounting.
• Strong leadership with ability to engage and influence at board level.
• Proven ability to drive transformation in reporting processes and controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and review of statutory financial statements and regulatory filings, ensuring IFRS compliance.
• Provide expert guidance on complex accounting issues, including new standards and hedges.
• Develop and oversee ESG reporting framework aligned with global standards.
• Oversee treasury finance, hedge accounting, and risk mitigation related to accounting.
• Engage with senior stakeholders including CFO, CEO, Board, and Audit Committee.
• Monitor regulatory developments and implement changes to keep the Group compliant.

Skills

Chartered Accountant

Group financial reporting

Technical accounting

Stakeholder influence

Hedge accounting

Education

Chartered Accountant qualification

Job description

Team Finance Business Unit Finance and Enterprise Business Services Requisition No. 13076 City London, GB, WC2N 5EH Date posted 2 November 2026

At National Grid, we are investing more than £70bn over five years in the UK and the US, with a range of ground-breaking projects to expand our networks. With group revenue around £18bn.
Our strategy is focussed on delivering the brilliant basics to lead on performance, driving big shifts to define our future, and building our delivery credibility to drive disciplined growth.

We are now recruiting for a Group Chief Accountant, responsible for overseeing our external financial reporting and technical accounting matters, as well as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, and Treasury Finance.

Job purpose

Reporting to the Group Financial Controller and leading a total team of over 20 people, this is a senior leadership role which will require a combination of strong technical credentials and significant leadership experience.

The main purpose of this role is to protect the value of our business by ensuring the integrity of our external reporting, and to collaborate across the CFO and operational teams and interact with senior stakeholders to influence successful outcomes.

The person in post will interface with senior leadership internally up to board-level, the Audit & Risk Committee, external auditors, business unit CFOs and Controllers, and various other internal stakeholders.

New accounting standards and system changes will completely change how we approach this area in the coming years, and this will be a huge opportunity for someone to lead this, owning and driving transformation in this area.

Key accountabilities

• External Financial Reporting: Lead the preparation and review of statutory financial statements and regulatory filings, ensuring compliance with IFRS accounting standards and regulatory requirements including US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Technical Accounting: Provide expert guidance on complex accounting issues, including new standards, business combinations, and restructuring activities. Formulate technical accounting policies and ensure their consistent application across the Group.
• ESG Reporting: Develop and oversee the Group’s ESG reporting framework in line with evolving global standards and stakeholder expectations. Collaborate with sustainability teams to ensure accurate, transparent, and meaningful ESG disclosures.
• Treasury Finance (Hedge Accounting): Oversee hedge accounting processes, ensuring accurate reporting of treasury activities and compliance with relevant standards. Advise on risk mitigation strategies and their accounting implications. Work with Treasury to ensure hedge requirements and commercial opportunities are maintained and delivered.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Regularly interact with senior stakeholders, including the Group CFO, Group CEO, Group Treasurer, Board, and Audit and Risk Committee. Present complex accounting and reporting matters in a clear, concise manner.
• Regulatory Compliance: Monitor and interpret developments in accounting and regulatory requirements. Lead the implementation of changes within the Group and ensure readiness for new regulations.
• Transformation and Growth: Drive continuous improvement and transformation in reporting processes, leveraging technology and best practices. Foster a culture of growth, innovation, and high performance within the team.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to external reporting, technical accounting, ESG disclosures, and treasury finance.
• Be the prime relationship point for external auditors and work with the US Controller to ensure accurate US GAAP audits, accounting and filings
• Maintain close liaison with other Centers of Expertise, developing business knowledge and technical acumen.

Candidate profile

The successful candidate will be a Chartered Accountant (or equivalent), with extensive post-qualification experience in group financial reporting, technical accounting, and hedge accounting. In addition to this, the person is likely to demonstrate strengths alongside the following criteria:

• Deep technical expertise and knowledge, someone who is very confident in driving the technical side.
• Alongside these technical strengths, the person will need to demonstrate strong leadership skills with the proven ability to engage, influence, and build relationships at a range of levels (including up to board-level), and manage teams directly and indirectly.
• A strong appreciation and understanding of how things feel commercially to the business, and the ability to articulate complex financial topics in terms of business and commercial impact.
• A track record of driving transformation and continuous improvement.
• We are open to candidates from different sectors - most important would be experience operating at a similar scale and complexity, likely in FTSE-listed organisations.

More Information

Location: the role will be based in London, with the person on-site around three days per week on average (likely more frequently in busy reporting periods).

Salary: competitive base salary plus commensurate benefits.

The role will close for applications on Monday 16th November at 23:59 GMT.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Safety, Health, Environment and Resilience

On the ground, keeping energy flowing

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it's everything we put into everything we do. It's our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It's all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.