Principal Accounting Manager

ADP; Staines-upon-Thames; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Excellent pension

Job summary

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. seeks a Principal Accounting Manager to lead technical accounting, reporting, and governance for the UK, Ireland and South Africa. The role acts as deputy to the Accounting Director, guiding IFRS/UK GAAP and US GAAP consolidation within a matrix organisation.

The position emphasises SOX control enhancement, audit coordination, and ongoing process improvement across complex entities while developing accounting excellence and stakeholder partnerships.

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA) with UK/IFRS/US GAAP experience.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge across UK GAAP, IFRS and US GAAP.
• Experience in a matrix, international corporate structure is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Accounting Director for UK and regional accounting and reporting.
• Lead UK GAAP/IFRS trial balance and statutory financial statements.
• Drive SOX compliance and internal controls across the region.
• Oversee audit coordination with external auditors and manage audit memos.
• Own tax and group reporting for UK entities and relatedVAT considerations.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Microsoft Office

Oracle ERP

Hyperion Planning

Education

ACA/ACCA

Job description

We are recruiting for a Principal Accounting Manager!

Location: Our Staines office

Reports to: Accounting Director, UK, Ireland and South Africa

Hybrid working - 3 days in office and 2 days from home

The Principal Accounting Manager serves as a technical leader within the UK, Ireland and South Africa General Accounting organisation, acting as the deputy to the Accounting Director and providing technical leadership across accounting, financial reporting, governance, compliance and business transformation activities.

The role alongside the accounting director is responsible for maintaining a best-in-class control environment, ensuring the integrity of statutory and management reporting, driving continuous process improvement, and developing technical accounting excellence across the region.

Operating within a complex international and matrix environment, the Principal Accounting Manager provides expertise across UK GAAP, FRS 102, IFRS and US GAAP reporting requirements while partnering with senior finance and business stakeholders. The role also leads critical accounting projects, supports strategic initiatives and acts on behalf of the Accounting Director where required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deputising where required for the financial accounting and reporting of 5 UK ,1 Irish & 1 South Africa legal entities, ensuring these are maintained in compliance with FRS 102 & IFRS, company policies and US GAAP (for consolidation purposes). Scope able to evolve as the UK ADP business grows in size and/or geographically.
• Drive the SOX compliance effort sponsored by the Accounting Director both improving the SOX framework and the operational effectiveness of the controls on a day-to-day basis
• Own, account, improve, identify risks and mitigate for all of the following critical and sensitive ADP processes, requiring technical expertise as per local UK GAAP and IFRS and a solid understanding of consolidation accounting so that accounting of the same transactions for ADP reporting purposes are reflected properly under this different US GAAP standard, leveraging as well the complexity of the newly developed chart of account to meet both objectives. As a base but not limited to Corporation tax, Share Based payments, Pensions, Leases, Money Movements and trust accounting.
• Lead UK GAAP/IFRS trial balance and financial statements for all UK managed entities. Manage Audit effort in collaboration with external audit team and operate as the General Accounting point of contact (internal stakeholders & external stakeholders) for all audit related matters. Support managing the relationship with external auditors
• Act as technical advisor for all junior member of the UK General Accounting staff and with regards to any complex technical accounting matter (Legal Entity merger, Pension accounting, current and deferred tax.). Own and produce all audit memos re. revenue recognition, impairment, going concern, etc.
• Prepare and submit audit information to a professional standard.
• Responsible for all Group monthly, quarterly and yearly submissions returns.
• Own Corporation tax and Group reporting for the specific entities including Pension & FCA external reporting. Oversight technically VAT compliance and help manage the relationship with external tax advisors and Corp tax team.
• Review Balance Sheet reconciliations for Ireland and SA to a high level with strong support and reasoning and deputise on review of UK.
• Build close working relationships with the rest of the UK Finance team.
• Work across the organisation's matrix structure, providing support to those that need it and obtaining information when it is required.
• Take on key projects such as business cases, ERP/system upgrades, technical memos, detailed analysis and operational reviews
• Lead alongside the accounting director continuous improvement initiatives across accounting processes, controls and systems to improve efficiency, scalability and risk management.
• Drive a culture of accountability, compliance, continuous improvement and technical excellence.
• Responsible for management of the Finance Intern from an accounting perspective and rotating direct line management with FP&A.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The role currently has no direct management responsibilities however it does include responsibility for supervision and development of the Finance Intern on a rotational basis alongside FP&A leadership.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS:

• UK, SA and Ireland Accounting Director
• UKISE and southern Europe CFOs
• Business Teams reporting to all members of UKISE EXCOM
• Senior Financial Accountants & Team
• UKISA FP&A Director & Team

SKILLS, EDUCATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA). Audit & Technical accounting under UKGAAP/IFRS experience is must
• Subject matter expert for accounting standards and statutory accounting
• Experience of an international corporate structure and matrix organisation would be an advantage

Skills:

• Microsoft Office essential (Advanced Excel, Basic Word and PowerPoint)
• Comfortable with large amounts of data
• ERP Oracle and Hyperion Planning experience preferred

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following capabilities:

Teamwork

• Builds and maintains strong working relationships
• Actively networks across the business, contribute to cross functional teams
• Values delivering high quality service to internal & external clients

Communication

• Communicates with tact & sensitivity, invites feedback
• Expresses facts in a clear and concise manner
• Recognises information required from others and informs them appropriately

Analytical & Problem Solving

• Able to obtain unbiased information by effectively questioning and probing
• Uses sound rationale for problem identification and decision making
• Goes beyond the initial findings and takes steps to check multiple data sources and interpret various types of data
• Demonstrates tenacity and creativity when working with data to produce a high quality output
• Consistently determines an accurate sequence of activities to achieve goals
• Proactively looks for root causes and not just symptoms of problems
• Appropriately uses metrics and understands the information's impact on decisions

Results Orientated

• Strong sense of urgency about solving problems and completing tasks
• Able to embrace and adapt to change
• Utilises different approaches to complete a project
• Prioritises, Self-manages and proposes win-win solutions

Attention to Detail

• Organised and able to track work progress against schedule
• Ensures appropriate documentation on methodology and assumptions is in place
• Scrutinises own work
• Follows up with others to ensure work is tracking according to plan

Interpersonal Skills

• Takes a partnership approach
• Responsive and aware of others
• Resilient
• Knows who to involve in a process or decision-making exercise

BENEFITS:

• 25 days holiday (you can also buy and sell up to 5 days each year)
• Flexible benefits - private medical insurance, excellent pension scheme, subsidized gyms, employee discount portal, life assurance cover, annual kids pass membership and many more