Interim Financial Accountant

Robert Walters UK; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Interim Financial Accountant to oversee year-end statutory accounts in a temporary role. The ideal candidate will have a professional accounting qualification and a strong background in audit, with the ability to manage financial processes independently while ensuring compliance with UK GAAP and IFRS. This position requires excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, offering the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment and collaborate with diverse teams.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable post-qualification experience in audit or practice settings.
• Proven track record of preparing year-end statutory accounts.
• Experience liaising directly with external auditors.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and finalize year-end statutory accounts.
• Collaborate with external auditors to facilitate audit process.
• Identify areas requiring attention within financial reporting cycle.
• Gather information for statutory reporting and audit purposes.
• Review financial controls and processes for improvements.

Skills

Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA or equivalent)

Experience preparing year-end statutory accounts

Strong understanding of UK GAAP and IFRS

Excellent organisational skills

High level of initiative and self-motivation

Exceptional attention to detail

Outstanding interpersonal skills

Job description

Overview

Our client is in need of an Interim Financial Accountant from an audit/practice background to join their business on a temporary contract.

What you\'ll do

As an Interim Financial Accountant, you will play a crucial role in delivering accurate year-end statutory accounts and ensuring that all audit requirements are met efficiently. Your day-to-day activities will involve working autonomously to prepare financial statements, collaborating with both internal teams and external auditors, and identifying opportunities for process improvement. You will be expected to use your professional judgement and technical expertise to resolve complex issues as they arise, while maintaining clear communication with stakeholders at all levels. Success in this role will depend on your ability to manage competing priorities, demonstrate initiative, and uphold the highest standards of accuracy and compliance throughout the assignment.

• Take full responsibility for preparing and finalising year-end statutory accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant accounting standards.
• Collaborate closely with external auditors to facilitate a smooth and efficient audit process, addressing queries and providing necessary documentation promptly.
• Work independently to identify areas requiring attention within the financial reporting cycle, implementing solutions proactively to meet tight deadlines.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders across various departments to gather information required for statutory reporting and audit purposes.
• Review existing financial controls and processes, recommending improvements where appropriate to enhance efficiency and reliability.
• Prepare detailed supporting schedules and reconciliations as part of the year-end close process, ensuring all balances are substantiated.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current accounting regulations and best practices, applying these insights to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Support ad hoc finance projects as required by senior management, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability in response to changing priorities.

What you bring

To excel as an Interim Financial Accountant in this assignment, you will bring a wealth of experience gained from both audit or practice backgrounds as well as hands-on roles within smaller businesses. Your professional qualifications will underpin your technical competence, while your proven ability to handle year-end processes demonstrates your readiness for this challenge. You will possess not only deep knowledge of accounting standards but also the communication skills needed to collaborate effectively with auditors and internal teams alike. Your approach will be marked by diligence, reliability, and a genuine commitment to supporting others through periods of change or increased workload. By drawing on your initiative and resourcefulness, you will help ensure that all statutory obligations are met smoothly and efficiently.

• Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with demonstrable post-qualification experience in audit or practice settings.
• Proven track record of preparing year-end statutory accounts within small or medium-sized businesses, ideally having moved from practice into industry roles.
• Strong understanding of UK GAAP and IFRS, with the ability to apply technical knowledge confidently in practical scenarios.
• Experience liaising directly with external auditors during statutory audits, including responding effectively to queries and requests for information.
• Excellent organisational skills with the capacity to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting strict deadlines.
• High level of initiative and self-motivation, enabling you to work independently without close supervision while maintaining accountability for deliverables.
• Exceptional attention to detail combined with strong analytical abilities, ensuring accuracy in all aspects of financial reporting.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills that foster positive relationships with colleagues across different functions within the business.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates.