Assistant Finance Manager – Accounts Preparation (12-month FTC)

JOB TITLE: Assistant Finance Manager – Accounts Preparation (12-month FTC)

SALARY: £43,803 - £53,537

HOURS: Full time

LOCATION(S): Edinburgh

WORKING PATTERN: Our work style is hybrid, which involves spending at least two days per week, or 40% of our time, at one of our office sites.

About this opportunity

We're seeking a meticulous and experienced Accounts Preparation Specialist to join our finance team on a 12-month fixed term contract.

This role sits within the Commercial Banking Financial Control and Reporting team within Group Finance Support (GFS), who are responsible for financial control activity for the Commercial Banking division (CB) such as income recognition, reconciliation and substantiation of financial data, guardianship of the ledger and ensuring risks are appropriately recorded, escalated and resolved.

The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing accurate financial statements, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, and liaising with directors, auditors, and the company secretariat. This role requires strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a thorough understanding of accounting principles.

Key responsibilities:

• Prepare annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP/IFRS.

• Ensure all financial reporting complies with internal policies and external regulations.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors, providing necessary documentation and explanations.

• Present financial reports and insights to directors, addressing any queries and providing strategic financial advice.

• Collaborate with the company secretariat to ensure all statutory filings and compliance requirements are met.

• Conduct variance analysis to identify discrepancies and provide explanations for significant variances.

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of financial reporting.

• Maintain comprehensive documentation for all financial processes and reconciliations.

• Prepare ad hoc financial reports as requested by management.

About us

We’re on an exciting journey to transform our Group and the way we’re shaping finance for good. We’re focusing on the future, investing in our technologies, workplaces, and colleagues to make our Group a great place for everyone. Including you.

What you’ll need

• Accountancy qualification - ICAS (or equivalent), ACCA or CIMA

• Experience in accounting or finance, with a focus on financial statement preparation and audit coordination.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with senior management and external parties.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Collaborative attitude with the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.

About working for us

Our focus is to ensure we’re inclusive every day, building an organisation that reflects modern society and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We’re committed to creating a consciously inclusive workplace where our colleagues can be themselves, thrive and perform at their best.

We were one of the first major organisations to set goals on diversity in senior roles, create a menopause health package, and a dedicated Working with Cancer Initiative.

As an inclusive employer, we offer Workplace Adjustments for colleagues with a disability (which may include long-term health and neurodivergent conditions) where it is reasonable to do so. This could include flexibility with regards to office attendance, location, and working pattern.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you have a disability, you can also apply via our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). Through the DCS, we guarantee to interview a fair and proportionate number of applicants with a disability, whose application meets the minimum criteria for the advertised job role.

We also provide adjustments that are reasonable throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers for applicants with a disability, long-term health condition or neurodivergent condition. If you’d like an adjustment to the recruitment process just let us know.

We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%

• An annual performance-related bonus

• Share schemes including free shares

• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping

• 28 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top

• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies

If you’re excited by the thought of becoming part of our team, get in touch! We’d love to hear from you!