Group Financial Accountants

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utilities company in Reading is seeking a Group Financial Accountant to enhance financial controls, manage external audits, and provide assurance on financial reporting. The ideal candidate will be a qualified Chartered Accountant with experience in financial reporting controls. This full-time role offers a competitive salary of £55,000 - £65,000 and benefits, including flexible working options and generous annual leave.

Benefits

26 days annual leave, increasing with service

Performance-related pay plan

Generous pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent) required.
• Proven experience in operating and/or auditing financial reporting controls is essential.
• Solid technical financial reporting knowledge is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Drive targeted controls and process improvements in financial controls environment.
• Manage external audit deliverables and report on progress.
• Perform quality checks on financial published documents.

Skills

Qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)

Experience in operating and/or auditing financial reporting controls

Proactive with excellent communication and relationship management skills

Solid technical financial reporting knowledge

Job description

Overview

Job title Group Financial Accountants Ref 42353 Division Finance & Commercial Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary £55,000 - £65,000 depending on experience Closing date 06/11/2025

As the UK's largest Water and Wastewater company, we provide the essential service at the heart of daily life, health and enjoyment to more than 16 million customers across London, the Thames Valley and the surrounding area.

This is a varied role in a large organisation, allowing you to make a real impact on the way we operate as a business and putting you in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders. You will be responsible for the delivery of the financial controls improvement plan, providing independent assurance and project management of external audit financial deliverables and other ad hoc projects.

This role will drive forward financial controls improvements, including financial control testing, reporting and delivery of targeted improvements and will also provide independent assurance of technical accounting matters and external financial reporting. Dedicated project management of external audit financial deliverables, including developing reporting and escalation processes.

What you’ll be doing as a Group Financial Accountant

• Driving forward targeted controls and process improvements to enhance the financial controls environment
• Delivery of financial controls testing and reporting of findings. Working alongside stakeholders to address weaknesses identified
• Project Management of all external audit deliverables, reporting on progress
• Provide independent reporting assurance through the performance of quality checks on financial published documents and review of technical accounting topics
• Providing support to the Reporting Team on deliverables
• Support ad hoc projects for Group Finance

This is a full-time role under a hybrid working arrangement, between being based at Clearwater Court, Reading and working from home, according to the needs of the business. The role reports to the Group Finance Manager.

Working hours

36 hours, Monday to Friday

What you should bring to the role

• Qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)
• Experience in operating and/or auditing financial reporting controls
• Solid technical financial reporting knowledge
• Proactive with excellent communication and relationship management skills

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £55,000 to £65,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Leave: 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to both company and individual performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process . Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.