Senior Systems & Project Accountant

Howden Group Services Limited; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Howden Group Services Limited seeks a motivated individual for a 12-month fixed term contract role. You will lead the reconstruction of OneStream while collaborating with finance teams to enhance budgeting and reporting.

The ideal candidate is a qualified accountant with strong system skills and at least 5 years of PQE. Excellent communication and Excel skills are essential, with flexibility to work both in Milton Keynes and London.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with at least 5 years PQE.
• Experience in financial consolidation systems like OneStream.
• Capable of multitasking and managing competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the Howden Group project to rebuild OneStream.
• Undertake reconciliation processes for Specialty/Reinsurance Divisions.
• Support subsidiary finance teams with reporting queries in OneStream.

Skills

Strong system skills

Excel skills

Communication skills

Data manipulation

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA)

Tools

OneStream

Workday

Job description

The Role

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual, who is interested in working for a fast-growing and dynamic organisation. This role will be a 12-month fixed term contract. The successful candidate will have strong system skills, understand how OneStream or similar financial consolidation systems operate and be skilled in manipulating data and reports. A key challenge of the role is contributing to the design and implementation of the project and managing the UAT programme effectively.

What you’ll do

• Act as the Specialty/Reinsurance Divisions lead on the Howden Group project to rebuild OneStream, working closely with the heads of Specialty/Reinsurance Finance and FP&A teams.
• Undertake reconciliation processes for the Specialty/Reinsurance Divisions as data moves between ‘cubes’ in OneStream and ultimately into a new application.
• Support the subsidiary finance teams with reporting queries in OneStream, with significant demand when moving to the new cube and ultimately to a new application.
• Improve and streamline month‑end close procedures to reduce the time it takes to close month end.
• Collaborate with the FP&A teams to improve budgeting and reporting processes within the Specialty/Reinsurance Divisions, such as recording and reporting of headcount data.

Who we’re looking for

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA) with at least 5 years PQE.
• Committed self‑starter with good communication skills, comfortable reporting progress to Senior Leadership (CFO/FD level).
• Experience of OneStream or a similar financial consolidation system (desirable).
• Understanding of how data from other systems such as Workday can be integrated into OneStream.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Comfortable multitasking with competing deadlines in a fast‑paced environment and prioritising effectively.
• Highly numerate and technically skilled in using accounting systems and manipulating data.
• Capability to quickly comprehend and train others on systems and processes.
• Thrives in a dynamic, entrepreneurial and changeable environment; finds pragmatic solutions when faced with time or information constraints.
• Mid to large‑group experience background (financial services experience desirable but not essential).
• Flexible on place of work, with expected travel to the Milton Keynes office two or three times a week and occasional travel to the London Office in the City.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no single Howden type. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges and are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure our positions align well with your needs. In addition to usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate flexible hours or hybrid working arrangements where possible.