Senior Financial Accountant - External Reporting

JDEMEA; Bury; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global omni-channel retailer in the UK is seeking a Senior Financial Accountant to oversee external financial reporting. Ideal candidates will have strong IFRS knowledge and at least 2 years of post-qualification experience. The role includes preparing statutory accounts and ensuring compliance with regulations. The company offers a range of benefits like a holiday allowance and staff discounts.

Benefits

Incremental Holiday Allowance

Staff Discount on qualifying purchases

Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme

Discounted Gym membership

Personal development opportunities

Access to Apprenticeships

Qualifications

• 2 years post-qualified experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepare consolidated and entity-level statutory accounts.
• Assist in drafting disclosures and notes for reports.
• Support external audit process with working papers.
• Provide technical accounting advice to internal stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with financial reporting regulations.
• Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting.

Skills

Strong knowledge of IFRS

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Stakeholder management skills

Ability to work to tight deadlines

Strong Excel skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

Job Title: Senior Financial Accountant

Department: External Reporting | Location: Bury | Reporting To: Head of External Reporting | Contract Type: Permanent | Closing Date: 7 November 2025 | Internal/External: External

About JD Group

Founded in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, JD Group has grown into a leading global omni‑channel retailer in Sports Fashion, Outdoors, and Gyms.

Our diverse and dedicated teams operate across a portfolio of renowned retail brands in multiple international markets.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1996 and a proud member of the FTSE100 since 2019, the JD Group continues to expand both in the UK and globally driven by a commitment to innovation, excellence, and possibility.

Our vision is to become the world's most trusted and dynamic omni‑channel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds to join us in shaping this future.

If you're passionate about contributing to an inclusive, people‑first, and customer‑centric organisation motivated by continuous growth and operational excellence we'd love to hear from you.

Role Overview

The Senior Financial Accountant – External Reporting is responsible for the preparation, accuracy, and timely delivery of external financial reporting. The role ensures compliance with relevant accounting standards (predominantly IFRS) and external regulatory requirements, while supporting senior finance leaders in providing transparent and reliable financial information to internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Statutory Reporting
  • Prepare consolidated and entity‑level statutory accounts in line with applicable accounting standards.
  • Assist in drafting disclosures, notes, and supporting schedules for annual and interim reports.
  • Support the external audit process by preparing working papers, liaising with auditors, and resolving queries.
• Technical Accounting
  • Provide technical accounting advice and analysis to internal stakeholders.
  • Assist in preparing materials for the Board, Audit Committee, and regulators as required.
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with financial reporting regulations.
  • Monitor changes in accounting standards and assess impact on reporting.
• Controls & Governance
  • Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting.
  • Ensure reconciliations, accounting entries, and disclosures are complete, accurate, and properly reviewed.

Skills & Experience Required

• Strong knowledge of IFRS
• Attention to detail with a high standard of accuracy
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities
• Strong Excel skills
• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)
• 2 years post‑qualified experience

Desirable

• Big 4 audit experience
• PLC external reporting experience
• Previous experience with Workiva annual report and accounts

What We Offer

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a workplace where every colleague is valued, respected, and empowered. We celebrate the diversity of our teams and strive to ensure that all colleagues regardless of background, identity, or lived experience can thrive and contribute meaningfully.

As a part of our successful and continually evolving company, you'll be encouraged to embrace and uphold our strategic priorities: putting people first, at the forefront of digital innovation, staying deeply attuned to our customers, and pursuing operational excellence. We are always exploring new avenues for growth, and we welcome individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact every day.

We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:

• Incremental Holiday Allowance
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
• Discounted Gym membership
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications