Senior Financial Accountant

Senior Financial Accountant

- Broadcasting/Media

- London (hybrid)

- Permanent

Altum Consulting will be supporting a household name in the UK broadcasting and media space to secure a Senior Financial Accountant. This role will sit within Group Reporting and Control, a team of 15 within the overall Finance department of approximately 50. This team is led by the Head of Group Reporting and is responsible for providing analysis and reporting on the financial performance of the organisation, including KPI\'s comparative analysis versus budgets and forecasts, business partnering with senior stakeholders such as the c-suite/heads of departments and ensuring a strong controls environment.

Key Responsibilities,

Group accounting

• Support the Finance Manager (Corporate & Consolidations) with the month end close process - including identifying and preparing adjustments required on consolidation of the Group\'s accounts
• Understand the on-going operating performance of the business and be able to note, explain and understand trends, variances and comparatives
• Ownership of monthly management accounting, balance sheet recs, forecasting and budgeting for the group\'s support functions (including Finance, Corporate/Chief of Staff, Communications and Equity & Inclusion)
• Preparation of standard departmental report packs including narrative and comparative performance analysis
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with business budget holders for these areas, ensuring they are kept up to date and informed regarding the above in relation to actuals, forecast and budget implications, or key projects and/or negotiations they are involved in
• Responsible for the Capex process including monthly accounting process, reviewing the FA register, and preparing monthly Capex reports and reconciliations
• Responsible for liaising with HR and outsourced payroll provider on monthly payroll postings, plus payroll related and pension balance sheet reconciliations ensuring discrepancies are investigated
• Assist the Finance Manager (Corporate & Consolidation) to review, organise and monitor accounting support tasks carried out by the Assistant Management Accountant(s) as appropriate, and support with their training and development

Financial reporting

• Prepare financial statements and notes for inclusion in the the group\'s Annual Report using financial consolidation/reporting tool, and develop knowledge of this software to create reporting for new disclosure requirements as appropriate
• Act as a day-to-day key audit contact, able to field routine queries and explain accounting treatments in context of relevant standards
• Manage preparation, review and tracking of audit deliverables
• Prepare statutory accounts for three subsidiary trading companies, including adjustments required from group accounts, commentary and disclosures
• Prepare regular reporting for external stakeholders (whole of Government accounts, ONS and Ofcom)

Financial risk and controls

• Support the Finance Manager - Accounting (Corporate & Consolidation) and the Finance Manager - Group Financial Reporting by consolidating quarterly balance sheet review process ensuring all balance sheet accounts are reconciled, and outline key commentary and risks/opportunities for FD and other team members
• Proactively identify areas for process improvement and assist the Financial Reporting Manager in implementation

Other

• Work with Financial Reporting Manager to prepare analysis and summaries supporting technical accounting advice to the rest of the Finance team and wider business
• Assist with maintaining the Group\'s chart of accounts
• Support Financial Reporting Manager with other project work as required during a period of transformation in the Finance team

Required Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) - newly qualified to 2 years PQE
• Demonstrable experience of supporting business budget holders in day-to-day management of operating budgets, and in developing of in-year forecasts based on YTD performance
• Demonstrable experience in supporting external audit process
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Experience with financial information systems e.g. Oracle GL and Workday
• Strong Excel Skills