UK Senior Accounting

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA); London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global financial institution is seeking a Lead Accountant to oversee the finance branch in London. This role entails ensuring regulatory compliance, preparing financial statements, and leading the accounting team. Ideal candidates will have a degree in accounting and significant leadership experience, along with CPA certification.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in financial accounting within financial institutions.
• At least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Fluent in Spanish and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting function ensuring regulatory alignment.
• Oversee preparation of local and IFRS financial statements.
• Design strong internal accounting controls and drive process improvements.

Skills

Customer Targeting

Empathy

Ethics

Innovation

Proactive Thinking

Education

Degree in Accounting or Finance

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Tools

ERP systems (e.g., SAP)

Job description

time left to apply End Date: July 7, 2025 (18 days left to apply)

job requisition id JR00075662

Excited to grow your career?

BBVA is a global company with more than 160 years of history that operates in more than 25 countries where we serve more than 80 million customers. We are more than 121,000 professionals working in multidisciplinary teams with profiles as diverse as financiers, legal experts, data scientists, developers, engineers and designers.

The CIB UK Finance team is in charge of the accounting, regulatory reporting, Cost management, Planning & budgeting, Liquidity & Capital efficiency and Tax in the UK Branch.

About the job:

Purpose of the Role:

Lead the accounting function of the branch, ensuring the integrity, reliability, and regulatory alignment of financial information, with a focus on accounting supporting business growth, and fostering cross-functional collaboration within the finance area (Tax, Regulatory Reporting, Accounting BBVA SA…).

Accounting Control and Business Evolution

Analyze and explain accounting variations based on business performance and evolution.

Ensure that the accounting structure scales appropriately with the growth and complexity of the branch.

Maintain close collaboration with treasury, financial control, tax, and risk teams, ensuring consistency and quality in financial reporting.

Financial Reporting and Compliance

Oversee the preparation of local and IFRS financial statements, ensuring regulatory compliance and timely delivery.

Coordinate the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting closing processes.

Ensure fulfillment of tax and regulatory obligations and manage internal and external audit processes.

Internal Controls and Continuous Improvement

Design and maintain strong internal accounting controls (reconciliations, policies, SOX compliance if applicable).

Lead automation and process improvement initiatives, including ERP and financial reporting tools.

Group Coordination and Head Office Relations

Act as the operational liaison with the corporate accounting team, ensuring alignment with global policies.

Coordinate local implementation of group accounting guidelines, tools, or standards.

Ensure high-quality reporting to the group for consolidation and group-level reporting processes.

Lead, develop, and motivate the accounting team.

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team.

Education: Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.

Experience: 7+ years in financial accounting within financial institutions, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.

Knowledge: Local and international accounting standards (IFRS), tax regulations, internal controls, reporting, ERP systems (e.g., SAP).

Languages: Fluent Spanish (for interaction with head office) and English.

Key Competencies: Leadership, analytical thinking, results orientation, effective communication.

Skills:

Customer Targeting, Empathy, Ethics, Innovation, Proactive Thinking

Excited to grow your career?

BBVA is a global company with more than 160 years of history that operates in more than 25 countries where we serve more than 80 million customers. We are more than 121,000 professionals working in multidisciplinary teams with profiles as diverse as financiers, legal experts, data scientists, developers, engineers and designers.

The CIB UK Finance team is in charge of the accounting, regulatory reporting, Cost management, Planning & budgeting, Liquidity & Capital efficiency and Tax in the UK Branch.

About the job:

Purpose of the Role:

Lead the accounting function of the branch, ensuring the integrity, reliability, and regulatory alignment of financial information, with a focus on accounting supporting business growth, and fostering cross-functional collaboration within the finance area (Tax, Regulatory Reporting, Accounting BBVA SA…).

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting Control and Business Evolution

• Analyze and explain accounting variations based on business performance and evolution.

• Ensure that the accounting structure scales appropriately with the growth and complexity of the branch.

• Maintain close collaboration with treasury, financial control, tax, and risk teams, ensuring consistency and quality in financial reporting.

Financial Reporting and Compliance

• Oversee the preparation of local and IFRS financial statements, ensuring regulatory compliance and timely delivery.

• Coordinate the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting closing processes.

• Ensure fulfillment of tax and regulatory obligations and manage internal and external audit processes.

Internal Controls and Continuous Improvement

• Design and maintain strong internal accounting controls (reconciliations, policies, SOX compliance if applicable).

• Lead automation and process improvement initiatives, including ERP and financial reporting tools.

Group Coordination and Head Office Relations

• Act as the operational liaison with the corporate accounting team, ensuring alignment with global policies.

• Coordinate local implementation of group accounting guidelines, tools, or standards.

• Ensure high-quality reporting to the group for consolidation and group-level reporting processes.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and motivate the accounting team.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team.

Candidate Profile:

• Education: Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.

• Experience: 7+ years in financial accounting within financial institutions, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.

• Knowledge: Local and international accounting standards (IFRS), tax regulations, internal controls, reporting, ERP systems (e.g., SAP).

• Languages: Fluent Spanish (for interaction with head office) and English.

• Key Competencies: Leadership, analytical thinking, results orientation, effective communication.

Skills:

Customer Targeting, Empathy, Ethics, Innovation, Proactive Thinking

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We are more than 121,000 colleagues across 25 countries, working in multidisciplinary teams where we understand the importance of work-life balance. We support our clients in the energy transition and are committed to inclusive growth. We are pioneers in adopting disruptive technologies that will shape the financial industry. Dare to define the future of banking!