Accounting jobs in United Kingdom

Description

The Finance Technology Cobalt Lead will serve as a technology delivery partner for the Finance division within MUFG Securities EMEA & Mitsubishi Bank Europe. This critical role involves providing technical leadership around the execution of a merger between two legal entities within the MUFG Financial Group and the corresponding activities related to consolidation and financial reporting. The successful candidate will navigate a large and complex technology landscape working with a global stakeholders, partnering with Finance, Technology, Project Management and several other groups across the MUFG network.

1. Project Strategy and Delivery
   • Define, plan, and execute technology projects related to general ledger (FX management, intercompany, period management, financial control, consolidated reporting etc.).
   • Define the subledger consolidation strategy and data migration which covers corporate lending and capital markets as well as expense subledgers (P2P, Time & Labour, T&E, Asset Management etc.)
   • Apply structured project management methodologies (Agile/Scrum or Waterfall where appropriate) to ensure delivery is on time, within budget, and meets specified functional and non‑functional requirements.
2. Stakeholder and Relationship Management
   • Act as a bridge between Technology and Finance helping to shape how to produce consolidated financials from disparate application and technology platforms.
   • Build and maintain effective working relationships with project team members and decision‑makers underpinned with MUFG values such as innovate & simplify, people focussed, listen‑up speak‑up, client centric and own & execute.
   • Oversee relationships and delivery quality for third‑party software vendors and implementation partners utilised for Finance systems.
3. Technical Leadership and Architecture
   • Guide the architecture and design of new or enhanced accounting solutions, ensuring scalability, stability, and control integrity (SOX compliance awareness).
   • Focus on the quality and lineage of financial data flows, from trade capture systems through to the General Ledger and reporting layers. XP with cloud‑based financial platforms (e.g., OCI, Azure) and data analytics tools (e.g., OTBI, Power BI) for finance reporting.
   • Work closely with Business Analysts and SME’s and perform thorough review of Business Requirements.
   • Produce high quality documentation such as Technical Designs understanding functional, logical and physical architecture. Be comfortable with detail, helping to document or review specifications, operational readiness plans, test strategies, security questionnaires etc.
4. Risk and Compliance
   • Ensure all new and existing accounting technology solutions adhere strictly to internal risk framework, operational security policies, and external financial regulations (e.g., SoX, Basel 3, PRA/FSCS requirements).
   • Maintain security and data privacy controls and embed this in key design decisions. Understand concepts such as privileged accounts, password vaults, encryption standards etc.
   • Design solutions with a risk based approach and ensuring robust financial controls are factored into new or changing IT or business landscape.
   • Lead technology remediation efforts identified by internal audit or compliance functions related to financial data and systems.

• Financial Services Expertise: Minimum 8 years of XP in IT project delivery, with at least 4 years focused specifically on Finance or Accounting Technology within an Investment Bank or major Financial Services institution.
• Financial Operations: Have a practical understanding on how P&L and Balance Sheet are produced. The typical activities Finance perform around month‑end and how the month‑end close process concludes.
• Accounting System Knowledge: Deep functional and technical knowledge of core accounting systems, including a modern General Ledger (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Workday) or similar industry‑specific GL platforms. Have XP with banking accounting products such as OFSAA, Aptitude, Financial Accounting Hub solutions.
• Project Leadership: Proven track record of successfully leading and delivering complex, cross‑functional technical delivery on projects with significant investment budgets in a regulated environment.
• Communication & Cultural Acumen: Exceptional communication and presentation skills. Demonstrated XP working effectively within a global organization, specifically exhibiting strong cultural sensitivity and proficiency in engaging with SNR leadership, Japanese management and technical teams.
• Technical Proficiency: Deep understanding of system integration patterns (Flat Files, APIs, MQ messaging), data warehousing & reporting concepts, along with SDLC tooling.
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Finance, Engineering, or a related quantitative field. A professional certification (e.g., PMP, Prince2, or Agile Scrum Master) is highly desirable.

• Accounting XP desirable although not essential. Conceptual understanding of IFRS 9, IFRS 17, and accounting standards (such as IFRS, UK GAAP, J‑GAAP) also desirable.

• Proven track record of leading technology teams into successful project delivery with an exceptional understanding of PDLC and the key stages/phases of a project.
• Must have a good understanding of technology used in Finance and XP working with key financial functions such as management of a General Ledger, Financial reporting (balance sheet, P&L, Income statement), revenue and expense management, reconciliation and controls.
• Have worked for a large global organisation with multiple entities, multiple currencies, multiple reporting calendars, within a project function and understand the importance of working towards project milestones.
• Be familiar with presenting at Architectural Review Boards, ensuring detailed IT solutions can be expressed in a summarised, simplified way which focusses on key architecture points.
• Possess vertical within the financial services sector and have a broad understanding of the wider finance industry and economy, showing an appreciation of regulations such as BCBS239, eInvoicing, Basel 3.1 etc.
• A robust understanding of Finance’s accounting reporting requirements including month end reporting on trial balance, tax filings, balance sheet disclosures plus year‑end P&L management.
• Detailed understanding of reporting and data warehouses including industry standard practices around Business Intelligence solutions for Finance.
• XP in managing teams, developing & nurturing talent.
• Strong track record of building effective partnerships with peers.

• Understanding of key accounting functions and how modern Technology platforms provides services to underpin those functions. How cloud and AI based solutions can be incorporated into integration tools, application software, databases, ETL processes, scheduling and orchestration.
• Expert understanding of accounting concepts and principals such as double entry accounting, trial balance, financial statements, month‑end reporting, adjustments and reversals, debtors/creditors, profit and loss, income statement, depreciation methods, bank statement reconciliations, attestations.
• Excellent understanding of a General Ledger and how it is used across a large complex enterprise, including global organisation structures, chart of accounts, multi‑GAAP environments including local GAAP and IFRS, balance revaluation, adjustments processing, foreign currency translations and FX management, translations, cross validation security rules, intercompany accounting and eliminations, group wide consolidation etc.
• Knowledge of core financial sub‑ledgers such as invoice and payments, workflow approval rules, payment formats and bank integration, procure to pay workflow processes, corporate expense credit card integration, departmental allocations, reconciliations and exception handling, supplier and customer management etc.
• Knowledge of Asset Management and Project Costing including WBS structures and formats, task and expenditure breakdown, capitalisation processes, depreciation methods and NBV calculation etc.
• Knowledge of accounting for revenue including accounting engines and Sub‑ledger accounting rules, accounting structures for recognition of P&L vs Balance Sheet, accounting error and exceptional handling management, sub‑ledger account reporting and managing and processing sub‑ledger adjustments for financial products.
• XP of the following platforms: Oracle Fusion Financials, SAP, Workday or any other equivalent ERP solutions.
• Have an understanding of technical programming languages and software:
  • Database languages such as SQL & PL/SQL (SQL Server / Oracle)
  • ETL solutions such as Informatica and Server technologies such as MS Windows Server
  • An understanding of XML messages using a Messaging Bus such as IBM MQ WebSphere
  • An understanding of the operating system, Windows and Linux
  • Middleware tools and technologies such as BPEL & SOA based architecture
  • Scheduling software and tools such as Control‑M, Autosys etc.
• Good understanding of Project Life cycle tools such as JIRA, Service Now etc.
• Good understanding of financial products such as loans, deposits, corporate lending , project lending and capital markets products such as derivatives, OTC and fixed income.
• Practical understanding of digital transformation strategies including leveraging cloud technologies such as SaaS / PaaS / IaaS solutions.

• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills
• Ability to build strong and lasting relationships across the bank
• The ability to manage large workloads and tight deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage conflict effectively
• Results driven, with a strong sense of accountability, focused on business outcomes
• Strong decision making skills including prioritisation, with the ability to demonstrate sound judgement
• A structured and logical approach to work
• A confident approach, with the ability to provide clear direction to your team
• Excellent managerial/leadership XP with demonstrable XP leading a high performing team
• A strategic approach, with the ability to lead and motivate your team
• A creative and innovative approach to work taking into account external factors such as ESG

• ERP
• Oracle
• M&A
• Implementation
• Technical

Job Title: Finance Technology Cobalt Tech Lead

Location: London, UK

Job Type: Contract