Senior Accountant R2R

Merlin Entertainments - Corporate; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading entertainment firm in Basingstoke is seeking a Senior Accountant to join their Finance Hub team. This role focuses on managing performance, financial accountability, and operational excellence within financial operations. Candidates should be fully qualified in ACA, ACCA, or CIMA with experience in financial analysis and reporting. The company offers competitive benefits including a Merlin Magic Pass for free admission to attractions worldwide.

Benefits

Pension

Life Assurance

Discretionary company bonus

Merlin Magic Pass

Enjoy the Ride pass

Discounts in shops and restaurants

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience in a similar finance role.
• Proven track record of month-end close processes.
• Experience in understanding technical accounting frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders.
• Promote a strong culture of financial controls and audit compliance.
• Deliver accurate and timely variance analysis.

Skills

Financial analysis

Accounting compliance

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Education

Fully qualified ACA, ACCA, or CIMA

Job description

What you'll bring to the team

The Role

We are looking for a Senior Accountant to join our Finance Hub (FHub) team in Basingstoke. This role is a key collaboration point between Regional Finance, Site Finance, and the R2R Accounting Domain teams. You will be responsible for the timely and accurate analysis of financials, resolving accounting and reporting queries, and ensuring all activities are delivered in line with company policy, performance standards, and quality requirements.

The position also plays an important role in driving management accounts analysis at a regional level and supporting the company’s wider finance community.

Key Responsibilities

Performance Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders, including regular performance reviews.

• Promote a strong culture of financial controls and audit compliance.

• Provide financial analysis and commentary for Regional Finance stakeholders.

Financial Accountability

• Supervise accounting activity across international legal entities.

• Ensure accounts and records are properly maintained and compliant with statutory requirements.

• Coordinate preparation of audited financial statements.

• Work closely with Regional Finance Managers, Head of R2R, and the Process Improvement team.

Operational Excellence

• Deliver accurate and timely variance analysis, ensuring follow-up and process improvements.

• Support P&L review activities and manage the period-end close within deadlines.

• Ensure adherence to financial policies and facilitate regional analysis requirements within the FHub.

Qualifications & Experience

• Fully qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA – 2 years.
• Proven track record of month-end close processes incorporating financial analysis and reporting.
• Experience partnering teams / people through understanding of technical accounting frameworks and problem solving. Being to go to person to consult on matters of subject expertise.
• Knowledge and understanding of SSC & R2R processes.
• Experience of process improvement initiatives.
• Initiative-taking individual with the ability to both operate strategically and tactically and able to effectively manage multiple Stakeholders requirements whilst maintaining high quality throughout

Benefits

We’re growing fast and alongside a fun and friendly environment, we offer a fabulous package and amazing prospects – ideal if you’re already fantastic and want to become even better (our magic can help here). Benefits include Pension, Life Assurance, discretionary company bonus, 28/33 days’ holiday including bank holidays, a Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide, an Enjoy the Ride pass which entitles you and 5 loved ones unlimited entry into your regional attractions, 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% discount on LEGO, plus lots more!