Systems Accountant

Systems Project Accountant - Highly Successful Global Aerospace and Defence Company.

Our client is currently recruiting for a Systems and Project Accountant to have ownership of, and responsibility for, process and system improvement across the team to support transactional finance, financial reporting and management accounting areas. Ultimately the role will take on the responsibility for leading the finance team through the implementation of a new Finance ERP system, and therefore sound understanding of existing systems and processes, together with a vision of continuous improvement and an ability to engage stakeholders at all levels, is vital.

This is a newly-created Business Unit and faces various challenges from a system and process perspective, not least combining legacy processes into a single, joined-up framework which supports not only the existing business requirements but also enables a platform for growth. This role is fundamental in providing the finance team and the wider business with a robust, end-to-end architecture to drive more efficient reporting processes and significant improvements in Management Information.

As Systems and Project Accountant your skills and qualifications will ideally include:

• CIMA / ACCA / ACA qualified or part-qualified with demonstrable accounting experience and strong intellectual curiosity
• Excellent Microsoft Excel/financial modelling and analytical skills
• Ability to work unsupervised, with the drive to understand complex, multi-faceted scenarios from a financial perspective
• Prepared to work flexibly to achieve deadlines and multi-task, re-adjusting priorities and delivering accordingly
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work in cross-functional teams and to influence others at all levels of the organisation, applying healthy and vigorous challenge where appropriate, but through constructive and collaborative means
• Ability to present and communicate financial information to both Finance and non-Finance colleagues

As Systems and Project Accountant your main responsibilities will involve:

• Functional ownership of all financial systems within the BU (including but not limited to Access, Sage and Cognos), as well as ensuring the appropriate interfaces with operating systems, and in conjunction with the IT Application Analyst, maintain the overall finance system and process architecture on behalf of the UK finance team
• Interaction with the Group Finance team on relevant system changes and upgrades, with particular focus on MPC and other group reporting tools

• Design and deliver a short-term solution to consolidate disparate reporting processes across legacy elements
• Act as finance lead for implementation of a new ERP across the Finance function, as well as other Group-wide systems and process initiatives
• Provide support to the Financial Controller to ensure full compliance with the Minimum Standards of Financial Control, incorporating all legal entities and contracts across the UK business unit, including regular Segregation of Duties reviews and access control reviews, making recommendations for improvement and enacting approved changes
• Ensure appropriate tax reporting framework and controls are maintained in order to achieve ongoing compliance with SAO reporting requirements
• Assist in the establishment of financial controls, systems and processes within new legal entities and branches, and with the closure of legacy entities and branches where necessary
• Work closely with the BU Reporting Accountant to ensure MPC reporting and analysis is as effective and efficient as possible, including creation of new reports as required to support the Leadership team and wider business
• Support the Finance Manager Technical Services and Engineering Accountant with operating system and interface issues, and assist in testing of system upgrades or new system implementation
• Creation and maintenance of models and databases to ensure a consistent approach to the recording of finance-related data
• Ensure ongoing update and review of all finance-related processes and policies
• Maintain Business Continuity Plan on behalf of the Finance function

Keywords - ERP, CIMA, ACCA, ACA, Microsoft Excel, Financial Modelling, Analytical Access, Sage, Cognos, MPC tools

Systems Project Accountant

Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Salary: Competitive plus excellent benefits