Group Financial Accountant

The Company

The client  is a leading global, independent management advisory firm, owned and managed by its team of professionals, and operating across an international network of offices; in London (Headquarters), New York, Frankfurt, San Francisco and Stockholm, with satellite offices in Amsterdam, Madrid and Milan.  Established in 2004, the firm works with clients to structure, navigate and implement equity incentive arrangements for management teams in private capital transactions.  They  have been involved in transactions with a value of over £50B globally and in recent years, in more than 80 deals per annum in a wide range of business sectors.  Headcount is now over 50 people, over half of whom are based in the London office, which also generates about two-thirds of revenue.

The Role

There is now a need, as the business grows, to appoint a Group Financial Accountant, working alongside the COO and reporting directly to the Executive Chair and to the CEO.  The finance function is currently outsourced and  will be brought largely in-house, with appropriate support being recruited as needed.  Tax and payroll are likely to remain outsourced.  The London office is responsible for producing the accounts of the UK, US and German businesses but not those of the other European offices, who produce their own figures.

This person will be responsible for managing the finance reporting for the company, including in-house work (i.e. assisting in quarterly performance to the team, debtors etc.), quarterly submissions, the relationship with outsourced suppliers and for ensuring that timely information is provided to the company’s auditors.   Key challenges will revolve around the International dimension of the business,  which will include multi-currency transactions and VAT issues.  At times, they may need to be flexible in their working hours to accommodate the  needs of the company, due to time-scales and the geographies of deals. 

Specific duties will include:

• ensuring there is an efficient, modern, proactive and consistent system of financial control in operation throughout the Group
• managing treasury matters
• managing the provision of effective computer and management information systems throughout the Group
• ensuring, in liaison with the Compliance Officer, that the company complies with all reporting and statutory requirements liaising with professional advisers, including auditors, tax advisers, consultants, insurers and lawyers
• ensuring the development and co-ordination of the strategic planning process, which will incorporate budgets and forecasts, as well as the monitoring of company performance against these targets on a regular basis

This is a three day per week role and is based in the Central London office, with working relationships with the overseas offices.  There will be occasional overseas travel.

The Candidate

You will have;

• Senior level experience, embracing the whole spectrum of financial management in a professional or financial services firm
• Experience of working with businesses with significant turnover and a track record of expansion
• A thorough understanding of financial and management accounting, tax and treasury
• Experience of managing outsourced suppliers and of would be an advantage
• Experience of working in partnership with other colleagues both in the UK and in overseas offices would also be an advantage
• The highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism
• Experience of working with Xero accounting systems would be helpful.

You will be a first class team player, with an inclusive leadership style and will be a UK qualified accountant.

Remuneration

There will be a competitive remuneration package, pro rata for three days per week.  There is a bonus, related to both company and personal performance, plus statutory benefits and access to a discounted private health scheme.