Group Financial Accountant | Iconic Premium Sports Brand

Permanent

£50,000 - £55,000 + Bonus + Benefits

West London - Hybrid working

An exciting, newly created role as an experienced Group Financial Accountant to join a fast-growth SME who are already Europe's number one in what they do! With an ambition to expand its marketing and operations globally into a billion-dollar business. Our client has experienced phenomenal growth in 2021, from both online and store sales and the business is looking for an experienced and high-performing finance professional to join the expanding Finance function - taking it from a 'Start-up' business to a large, professional organisation with key controls, processes and reporting functions in place.

A strong culture-fit between the individual and the business is extremely important to ensure we can work together and deliver on the business vision. Some of our clients values include 'Authenticity', 'Passion for Product', 'Challenge Yourself' and 'Team Work' - if these values align to yours and you love sports footwear, then this could be an incredible company for you to join.

About the job

This role is an essential part of the Finance team, supporting & implementing the Financial Accounting and Reporting agenda across the business, along with being responsible for Europe and 3 other Countries opening in.

You will report into the Financial Controller and a key focus will be to ensure best practice in financial accounting processes. This will include ensuring the provision of financial information for internal & external reporting is timely, accurate and compliant.

As you will be working with a variety of teams across the company in both the UK and Netherlands (remotely) you will be need to be a natural at building strong relationships quickly and across all levels of seniority.

This will be a great chance for a qualified accountant to develop further within a fast-paced finance function and gain experience across all areas of the accounts. It is a crucial hire to maintain controls and provide information to us as a high growth, multichannel, international retailer.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Owning the completion of timely, accurate and insightful reporting for monthly P&L and balance sheet reviews, including variance analysis between budget and actuals
• Ownership of margin analysis for Board reporting.
• Complete monthly balance sheet reconciliations which are clear to review and highlight key risks and opportunities for the Group.
• Owning submission of the monthly retail commission workings for Finance Manager review ahead of monthly management accounts and payroll
• Proactively review, challenge and undertake continuous improvement across the areas for which you are responsible.
• Consideration of business processes and risks associated with a startup environment, ensuring a robust financial control environment, from the month end process to assisting with the year end statutory audit.
• Own the month end close for our UK and Dutch entities. Complete journals including prepayments, accruals, provisions and closing stock.
• Present commentary for monthly results to Financial Controller for review.
• Business partner with other departments to highlight potential for cost savings and efficiencies by using our departmental P&L reports.
• Post depreciation each month.
• Help lead system migration away from Xero.
• Cover payments to stock and non-stock suppliers for Finance Manager
• Cashflow forecasting for the Group
• Review VAT returns prepared by our bookkeeper before submission
• Review monthly closing stock balance and work with our internal Operations team to maintain control over balance and ensure accuracy
• Assist with any additional tasks, as instructed by the Finance Manager/CFO/MD
  
  

Qualifications & Skills

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA)
• Have experience working in a start-up environment (preferred, but not essential)
• Have experience in senior stakeholder management (including those outside finance).
• An ability to create effective and credible partnerships by working collaboratively to support and challenge stakeholders
• Excellent Microsoft Excel and financial analysis skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Proactive and comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment, with an ability to prioritise workload around deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• An analytical and problem-solving mind-set to understand, challenge and ask the relevant questions
• Creative, high energy, proactive, can do and a passion to win
• Strong interpersonal and team-building capabilities, ability to develop strong trust based relationships and manage effectively
• Passion for the luxury retail sector and commitment to the company's success