Interim Finance Consultant - Acquisition Accounting

Are you looking for a rare opportunity to navigate complex business combinations and acquisition accounting? Can you take the technical lead on year-end consolidation in a rapidly changing environment? Do you thrive when deadlines are tight, information is evolving, and multiple stakeholders need clarity?

A Housing provider is seeking an Interim Finance Consultant – Acquisition Accounting to lead the production of its first consolidated statutory accounts for year ending 31 March 2026, following a significant business combination that completed in FY25/26. This is a hands-on, technically challenging assignment requiring someone who can provide structure, pace and technical assurance across a sensitive and high-profile project. This will start as a six month contract.

You’ll act as the project manager and technical lead for all aspects of the acquisition accounting, consolidation modelling and audit engagement — working closely with internal finance teams across both organisations, external valuers, and the external auditors.

Key responsibilities include:

• Act as project manager and technical lead for the year-end consolidated accounts following the recent business combination.
• Deliver the audited financial statements, including:
• Ensuring the merger accounting note is correct
• Ensuring the fair value and acquisition position is correct
• Handling the consolidation of the acquired organisation with the appropriate fair value adjustments
• Developing the business combination model and producing the Group’s opening position at acquisition.
• Work closely with the audit partner to agree on the accounting principles and approach upfront
• Provide technical expertise in areas such as accounting policy differences between the two legacy organisations, determining the appropriate consolidation adjustments, and navigating the complexities of the acquisition accounting
• Be able to work independently and hit deadlines, as the organization is currently very busy with the merger, acquisition, and restructuring.

You’ll play a pivotal role in one of the most strategically important events this organisation has undertaken in recent years. The technical complexity, the need for project discipline, and the importance of getting the consolidation right will give you a highly visible and career-defining assignment. You’ll also have the autonomy to shape processes, impose structure where it’s needed, and provide real clarity in an environment where stakeholders — especially auditors — are presenting evolving demands.

To be considered, please meet these criteria:

• Be a fully qualified accountant with technical and hands on experience in acquisition accounting and fair-value adjustments (if you don’t have this experience but believe you can demonstrate the nous for figuring it out, then I’m still keen to hear from you)
• Demonstrable experience preparing consolidated year-end statutory accounts within Housing.
• Exceptional reconciliation skills and comfort being hands on with large, complex datasets.
• Highly organised, with proven project-management ability in pressured environments.
• Excellent communication skills to engage confidently with internal teams, external auditors, and third-party valuers.
• Ability to work independently and bring structure, pace, and clarity into a changing scope of work.

If you’re available at short notice and can bring the technical assurance and leadership this project needs, please apply immediately — interviews are taking place quickly.