Financial Accountant

Financial Accountant

Hybrid Working | Education Sector | £50,000 to £55,000 | Permanent

Be the person everyone turns to when the technical accounting questions arise.

Joining a large and complex organisation, you'll become the go-to person for some of the finance team's most important technical areas – from statutory accounts and audit through to VAT, grant reporting, and financial controls. With an upcoming audit cycle, a significant VAT review on the horizon, and multiple entities to support, you'll quickly find yourself at the centre of key financial decisions.

This is a role for someone who enjoys variety, likes getting stuck into technical challenges, and wants the freedom to improve how things are done rather than simply maintain the status quo. If you're looking for a position where your expertise will be visible, valued, and relied upon, this could be exactly that opportunity.

What you'll gain

• Ownership of key technical accounting areas including statutory accounts, VAT, grant reporting, and audit.
• Exposure to a complex organisation with multiple entities, diverse income streams, and varied funding arrangements.
• The opportunity to become the finance team's subject matter expert in several critical areas.
• A supportive manager who is passionate about knowledge-sharing and professional development.
• The chance to influence processes, strengthen controls, and drive continuous improvement.

What you'll do

• Lead month-end close activities and ensure balance sheet reconciliations remain accurate and up to date.
• Support the preparation of statutory accounts across the wider group structure.
• Coordinate and support the annual external audit process, managing requests and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Lead the preparation of VAT returns and support an upcoming VAT review.
• Oversee grant and capital reporting, ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
• Manage fixed asset accounting, including capitalisation and depreciation.
• Support the ongoing development of financial controls, policies, and procedures.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes and strengthen controls.

What you'll need

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience preparing statutory accounts and supporting year-end audits.
• Strong financial controls and balance sheet reconciliation experience.
• A proactive and inquisitive approach, with the confidence to challenge and influence stakeholders constructively.

Experience of partial exemption VAT, consolidation accounting, or working within education, charity, or other grant-funded environments would be highly advantageous.

Interested?

If you're looking for a role where you can combine technical accounting expertise, audit exposure, VAT ownership, and genuine influence within the finance function, we'd love to hear from you.