UK&I Financial Accountant

WSH is the parent company for leading brands operating in the catering and hospitality sectors. Our brands operate in diverse sectors, including:

• Public spaces – such as the Science Museum, St Pancras Champagne bar and Dublin Zoo
• Workspaces – from power stations to investment banks
• Education – primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities

A central support office provides financial, HR, IT, Supply Chain and other administrative services to the group companies each of whom retains its own personality and who operate across a number of catering and hospitality markets.

Recent acquisitions provide the group with new opportunities and include prestigious locations such as Musee Du Louvre in Paris and partnerships with established chefs such as Claus Meyers in Denmark.

We are looking to recruit a strong self-starter and enthusiastic part-qualified accountant to join our UK&I Financial Reporting team, who are responsible for preparing the monthly management accounts of the UK&I entities within the WSH Group.

The role would suit an individual with good problem-solving skills and an eye for detail. An ability to identify incremental improvements in processes and challenge the existing ways of doing things is considered central to the role.

The successful candidate will be stakeholder focused, confident in their own abilities and committed to providing quality service and support to the operational team at all levels. The role provides significant exposure to accounting routines and controls whilst offering valuable insight into how the broader WSH Group operates.

There is a strong work ethic and team spirit within the department and the wider support office. Team members rely on each other for support and guidance, so this role is looking to add someone who can work as part of a collective and will complement the existing team.

Key Accountabilities:

• Preparation of monthly management accounts for allocated UK&I entities, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• Month end journal analysis and posting to Microsoft Great Plains in accordance with UK&I monthly close timetable.
• Monthly reconciliation of balance sheet accounts, investigating issues and implementing resolutions before submission into Blackline.
• Maintenance and reconciliation of UK&I fixed asset registers and accompanying supporting files.
• Aiding operational staff with accounting queries and ensuring these are dealt with in a professional and timely manner.
• Providing information and ad hoc support to the Group Reporting team during the annual statutory audit.
• Constantly seeking to challenge the status quo and implement process improvement.
• The successful candidate will be accountable for their own learning and development (with appropriate support from line manager and training manager).
• Ad hoc duties as required.

What we require from you:

• Strong Microsoft Excel Skills (Pivot Table, Vlookups, Index Match, Sumifs, etc).
• Comfortable with computer systems and the daily use of the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to completing the ICAEW Chartered Accountant qualification (or similar), as part of our Apprenticeship program.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Problem solving skills.
• Professional etiquette and good stakeholder management.
• Desire to set standards and drive continuous improvement.
• Strong self-starter as well as ability to work cohesively within a team towards common deadlines.
• Confident and articulate to both finance and non-finance personnel.
• Team player.

And in return, we offer:

• 25 days holiday (plus public holidays)
• Plus your birthday off
• Enhanced pension
• Life Assurance cover
• Discounts available on the high street shops, holidays, gyms and cinemas
• Wellbeing assistance
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Volunteering Days
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Secondary Carer leave
• Wedding/Commitment day leave
• Bespoke training & development, including apprenticeships
• Salary £27,000 per annum depending on experience