Assistant Controls Accountant

Manpower are pleased to be recruiting on behalf of our client based in Milton Keynes for a Controls Accountant to join their team.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Our Client have a programme of work captured under their New Finance Platform programme to deliver multiple system functionality including an accounting and AP/AR module for our core business. To support this, they have a specific Finance Workstream within the programme.

This role takes shared responsibility within the Finance workstream for the investigation of accounting activities required for the new accounting module including determining and agreeing the correct accounting treatment ensuring that key controls are captured and implemented, the writing of business requirements and completion of our internal posting books.

As new code and functionality is delivered, being responsible for the operational tasks performed within the new application including month end and balance sheet reconciliation activity and subsequent training and transfer to the Accounting Team.

A large part of the role will be cross functional working within the programme as well as our client's colleagues in the Finance Department and other workstreams within the programme therefore Stakeholder management at all levels and across different business areas is a key requirement.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Be a Subject Matter Expert on various products and a team specialist for the new application
Understand the interaction and impact of subsidiary systems on the main accounting systems to ensure system integrity, particularly in relation to specific Balance Sheet and Profit & loss accounts, highlighting issues as necessary
Support in the writing of business requirements, clarifying accounting treatment and process with the Accounting Team
Drafting the process maps and procedures relating to the new processes/tasks performed by the Accounting Team
Collaborating with the BA's, Developers and Testers in the delivery of the Accounting requirements
Being a key participant in the Finance workstream, attending various meetings
To complete all Accounting Balance Sheet reconciliations in a timely manner, providing summarized information for management during the transition period between development being implemented and training/handover to operational teams
Carry out key month end tasks, including analysis in accordance with the month end timetable
Be a primary contact for Internal/External Auditors with the ability to provide background information to the programme from a Finance perspective
Understand the impact of operational changes to procedures and core business systems
Support colleagues within the Finance Workstream as required
Perform/Support UAT where appropriate to ensure that key controls are included within testing to deliver a robust solution
Perform/Support user acceptance testing (UAT) where appropriate to ensure that key controls are included within testing to deliver a robust solution.

PRINCIPAL CONTACTS / WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Finance Workstream - being an active member of the workstream to enable delivery of all business requirements, participating in project activity, creating posting books to support project delivery
Finance Accounting - ensuring that Finance stakeholders are aware of and part of the decision making process when drafting business requirements
IT - Business Analysts - collaborating with the BA's to write the business requirements
External Development Team (VTX) - participating in discussions centred around the business requirements ensuring that VTX understand our requirement
Internal/External Auditors - ensuring all audit related investigations/questions pertaining to the Finance Workstream activities are responded to
Other Workstreams within the programme - understanding business processes that drive financial postings

KEY CHALLENGES

Becoming the SME on core products and the new application

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Mandatory

AAT qualified or part qualified Accountant
Minimum of 5 year's experience in an accounting environment performing month end - preferably in Financial Services
Strong analytical skills with the ability to clearly define and investigate complex business process issues
Excellent written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with both Finance and non-Finance staff at all levels
Experience of managing relationships with multiple stakeholders
Experience of working within a project/programme

Desirable

Working knowledge of SAP FI/CMS preferable
Excellent knowledge of Excel and Office applications (minimum Intermediate level in Excel)
Good self-organisation with a proven methodical and disciplined approach to work
Self-motivated and a strong team player
Ability to work flexibly under pressure in order to meet strict deadlines
Ability to reactive effectively to resolve problems

If this sounds like the role for you then apply now