The Financial Accountant reports to the Finance Manager. The role is responsible for overviewing and executing period end closings, overview and responsibility for the balance sheet, whilst maintaining strong business controls. The role supports the UK Retail and Away From Home divisions in Maidenhead and the Packing Facility in Banbury.

Responsibilities / Key Activities

Balance Sheet

• Ownership and monthly review of the balance sheet reconciliation for Retail, Away From Home and Banbury prepared by IBM, including the supporting information. Pursue all queries, corrections and adjustments with the relevant finance teams. Take action to resolve, challenge and provide commentary.
• Setup of quarterly Balance Sheet rec review meetings with the FEC Finance manager & Finance Director for Retail and Banbury; provide commentary and action points for circulation.

Closing activities

• Liaising with Unit Controller teams to compile the monthly, quarterly and annual accounts ensuring that financial data is robust, in line with business objectives, corporate instructions and statutory regulations and is submitted to the deadline. Provide commentary for the profit and loss meetings on all accounts under the responsibility of the FEC.
• Reporting: Responsible for ensuring that all balance sheet and P&L (as agreed with the MSUs) reporting is performed on time and accurately by the IBM Manila team in line with corporate policies.
• IC balance resolution.
• Preparation, review and approval of journals.

Supervision

• Monitor performance of the IBM GL team and offer advice / assistance when required to ensure standards are maintained. Timely escalation of any issues that are not being resolved.
• Liaise with the Assistant Financial Accountant role.
• Assist with the integration and training of the intern.

Audits and Statutory Reporting

• Collaborate with both internal and external auditors to ensure compliance with accounting standards and internal key controls, leading to clean internal and external audit reports.
• Contribute to the completion of the statutory accounts.
• Monitor audit requests and ensure that all requests are fulfilled within the timelines.
• Ensure the information requirements for the Office of National Statistics is met.
• Assist with the VAT returns and other tax information provision when required.

Policies and Procedures:

• Ensure compliance to existing policies and procedures both locally and by Manila. Drive and implement improvement to those policies and procedures and ensure that all internal control requirements are met.
• Remain technically up to date with financial legislation developments that may affect internal or external reporting requirements. Share the knowledge with other team members to help development.