Group Financial Accountant

Blair West; Brompton-on-Swale; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Electric car scheme

Pension salary sacrifice

Life assurance

25 days annual leave

Discretionary 2:30 pm finish on one 'F

Professional development support

On-site 4 days / remote 1 day

Job summary

Blair West is supporting a leading global manufacturer and distributor to recruit a Group Financial Accountant for its European business. This newly created role offers ownership of monthly reporting, strong controls, and involvement in ERP optimisation within a growing, international group.

You will work closely with the Group Financial Controller, supporting audit, controls, and group reporting while shaping the finance transformation journey across Europe.

Qualifications

• Recently qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong grounding in financial accounting, internal controls and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Ability to critically review financial information, identify discrepancies and draw evidence-based conclusions.
• Strong Excel skills and an interest in ERP systems, automation and using technology to improve finance processes.
• Analytical approach with initiative to investigate issues and develop practical recommendations.
• Ownership mindset with accountability and escalation when needed.
• High standards of accuracy and attention to detail in financial reports and documentation.
• Experience with ERP implementation, post-go-live optimisation, multi-entity accounting or international finance is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of monthly management accounts and ensure timely reporting.
• Strengthen financial controls through reconciliations and supporting evidence.
• Support external audit processes by preparing schedules and documentation.
• Build understanding of operations and financial drivers with finance and operations teams.
• Help embed and optimise ERP after implementation; validate data and improve reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve finance processes through automation.
• Contribute to group reporting, audit and finance transformation projects.

Skills

Financial accounting

Internal controls

Balance sheet reconciliations

Analytical thinking

Ownership mindset

Stakeholder management

Auditing

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Blair West are supporting a leading global manufacturer and distributor to find a Group Financial Accountant for its European business. A family-run international group with a turnover of £50m, they operate across Europe, Asia and the Americas and are investing in its finance systems and processes to support continued growth. This newly created opportunity is ideal for a newly qualified accountant looking to take ownership of financial reporting and controls while playing a key role in optimising a recently implemented ERP system and supporting the wider group's finance transformation.

The opportunity:

• Take ownership of monthly management accounts ensuring accurate, complete and timely reporting to support business performance and decision-making.
• Strengthen financial controls through high-quality balance sheet reconciliations, robust supporting evidence and the timely resolution of outstanding issues.
• Support the external audit process by preparing financial schedules, documentation and supporting information for review.
• Build a detailed understanding of operations, transactions and financial drivers, working closely with finance and operational colleagues.
• Help embed and optimise ERP following implementation, investigating system issues, validating data and improving reporting and processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve finance processes, strengthen controls and introduce more efficient ways of working through technology and automation.
• Apply the practical lessons learned from a new ERP implementation to support the wider group's rollout, including testing, process design, documentation and user adoption.
• Work with the Group Financial Controller to embed the Group Finance Manual and support consistent application of financial policies and procedures.
• Investigate unfamiliar financial, system and process issues, establish root causes and implement practical, sustainable solutions.
• Contribute to wider group reporting, audit and finance transformation projects, sharing knowledge and improvements across the business.

You’ll be the ideal candidate for this position if you have:

• Recently qualified as an ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent accountant.
• A strong grounding in financial accounting, internal controls and balance sheet reconciliations, gained through audit, accountancy practice or a relevant industry role.
• The ability to critically review financial information, identify discrepancies and draw clear, evidence-based conclusions.
• Strong Excel skills and an interest in ERP systems, automation and using technology to improve finance processes.
• A naturally analytical approach, with the initiative to investigate unfamiliar issues, challenge assumptions and develop practical recommendations.
• A strong sense of ownership, seeing tasks and issues through to resolution while recognising when to seek guidance or escalation.
• High standards of accuracy and attention to detail, particularly when preparing financial reports and supporting documentation.
• The confidence to ask questions, challenge existing processes constructively and contribute ideas for improvement.
• The ability to build effective relationships across finance and operational teams in a changing business environment.
• Experience with ERP implementation, post-go-live optimisation, multi-entity accounting or international finance would be advantageous, but is not essential.

The benefits included with this opportunity:

• Hybrid working, with a four-days-on-site, one-day-remote arrangement.
• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Professional development support to help build technical and commercial capability.
• Electric car scheme.
• Pension salary sacrifice scheme.
• Life assurance.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• A discretionary 2:30 pm finish on one Friday each month.

Our commitment

Blair West is an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and inclusion at every stage of the recruitment process. We are committed to fairness, equality, and ongoing diversity training for our team to give our candidates and clients a feeling of belonging during their experience with us. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during their experience with us, please speak to their consultant.