Group Financial Accountant - 12 Month FTC

Eversheds Sutherland; Leeds; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Eversheds Sutherland in Leeds is seeking a Group Financial Accountant for a 12-month FTC. Reporting to the Group Finance Manager in the Financial Control team, you’ll oversee global financial control activities, month-end and year-end reporting, and ensure balance sheet integrity across geographies.

You’ll own payroll postings, analyse variances, support international finance teams, and contribute to audits and process improvements.

Qualifications

• Professionally qualified accountant with industry experience.
• Strong knowledge of FRS102 demonstrated by financial control experience.
• Management accounts preparation and payroll accounting experience.
• International experience preferred but not essential.
• Ability to work across complex entities, systems and countries.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with high attention to detail.
• Strong ability to manage conflicting timescales and multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Own monthly payroll postings in the management accounts, working with the payroll team to ensure correct costs posted at country and practice group level.
• Analyse monthly payroll and identify key variances to budget for month-end presentation to senior stakeholders.
• Act as a point of contact for our international finance teams and support on queries.
• Coordinate monthly balance sheets to ensure updated to high standard for monthly review.
• Own payroll and accounts payable balance sheets.
• Own statutory reporting on payment practices and performance.
• Prepare the quarterly consolidated balance sheet for the treasury team.
• Contribute to the UK external audit, particularly on payroll queries.
• Drive process improvement within areas of accountability.
• Handle other ad hoc projects as required.

Skills

Payroll accounting

FRS102

Management accounts

International experience

Stakeholder communication

Organization & detail

Education

Qualified accountant (ACCA/ACA)

Job description

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Group Financial Accountant - 12 Month FTC

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

* * * THIS IS A 12 MONTH FTC OPPORTUNITY * * *

What to Expect

For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It’s energetic, fast-moving and there’s always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity.

Focusing on your success and for what’s next, will ensure you thrive too

Our Team

At Eversheds Sutherland, you'll be part of a global team where collaboration, inclusion and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to supporting your professional development and providing opportunities to grow your career in an environment where your contribution is valued and recognised.

Join us and help shape the future of finance within a leading international law firm.

Role & Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Group Finance Manager within the Financial Control team, predominantly based in the Leeds office.

The Group Finance team are responsible for Global Financial Control including group reporting, month end and year end results, ensuring integrity of all balance sheets within Eversheds Sutherland and leading the audit of the Group accounts.

The team is responsible for overseeing financial management, control and reporting across the international business and ensuring the delivery of accurate, compliant, and timely financial information, while driving high standards of financial governance and efficiency. There is a particular focus on identifying efficiencies and technology automation opportunities to streamline workflows and reduce manual effort.

This role is accountable for:

• Ownership of monthly payroll postings in the management accounts, working with the payroll team to ensure correct costs are posted at country and practice group level.
• Analysing monthly payroll and identifying key variances to budget, ready to present to senior stakeholders at month end.
• Acting as a point of contact for our international finance teams, and to support on queries where required.
• Co-ordinating the monthly balance sheets, to ensure they are updated by the relevant colleagues to a high standard on a monthly basis, ready for review by the Finance Manager.
• Ownership of payroll and accounts payable balance sheets.
• Ownership of statutory reporting on payment practices and performance.
• Preparing the quarterly consolidated balance sheet for the treasury team.
• Contributing to the UK external audit, particularly on payroll queries.
• Process improvement within areas of accountability.
• Other ad hoc projects as required.

Skills & Experience

• Professionally qualified accountant with industry experience.
• Strong technical knowledge of FRS102 demonstrated by excellent Financial Control experience.
• Management accounts preparation and payroll accounting experience preferred.
• Partnership and international experience preferred but not essential.
• Must be able to work effectively, build strong relationships and be able to work across complex entities, systems and countries.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with high attention to detail.
• Confident and credible in dealing with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong ability to manage conflicting timescales and multiple projects.
• Organised and efficient with a ‘right first time’ approach to quality of work.

What’s In It For You?

At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

• We’re fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.