Financial Accountant - 12m contract

Who we're looking for
We are looking for a motivated individual to join the Schroders' UK Financial Control team, to perform the role of entity accountant for a number of UK asset management subsidiaries. Your role will focus on maintaining and reporting of IFRS accounting records, input into and review of regulatory returns, supporting Tax filings and ad hoc strategic work. 

This role will report directly to a Financial Controller and will work closely with all areas of Finance in addition to colleagues in Risk, Treasury, Regulation, Tax and other infrastructure functions as required.

About Schroders
We're a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we've been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn't change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

The team
Based at our HQ in London, the 6 person UK Asset Management Financial Control team manages the external reporting requirements for the Asset Management operating subsidiaries. We are enthusiastic and driven, with a desire to produce high quality results because we take our work seriously.  The team assists the Tax and Regulatory departments with their external filing obligations. The team works closely with Revenue Accounting, Cost Accounting, Financial Planning and Group reporting teams to ensure the statutory, management accounting and Group results are correct and fit for use. 

What you'll do

• Providing accounting oversight, ensuring the ledger is controlled and legal entity results are correct within the context of the entities' contractual obligations, regulatory permissions and control framework, in a timely manner;
• Responsible for monthly, quarterly and year-end closing of the accounting books;
• Working closely with Finance Operations and Accounting teams to review and challenge the revenue and cost base of the legal entities;
• Responsible for applying the Group Financial Control framework, performing balance sheet reconciliations and ensuring procedure documentation is up to date;
• Ensuring compliance with Finance policy;
• Working closely with the Regulatory team to input into, understand and review quarterly and annual regulatory returns and documents, specifically regulatory capital and liquidity reporting & forecasting, under FCA regulations;
• Managing and overseeing Regulatory submissions and forecasts;
• Working closely with the Tax team to ensure data being reported in Direct and Indirect tax returns is correct and in compliance with Transfer Pricing rules;
• Preparing annual statutory accounts, dividend proposals and quarterly Board reports as required, and presenting papers for review and sign off to the relevant Finance Director and 
• Proactively seek opportunities for process improvements.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need

• Qualified accountant;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and proven experience dealing with senior stakeholders within Finance and in other functions;
• Strong Excel knowledge is a requirement;
• Previous experience with the production or audit of statutory accounts is essential and experience of UK regulatory reporting is desirable;
• Ability to analyse process flows, identify areas to improve efficiency and maintain an appropriate control framework is expected;
• Experience in the use of an accounting system (e.g. Oracle, SAP) is desirable and
• Knowledge of the asset management industry preferable including market dynamics.

What you'll be like

• Highly curious, organised, self-motivated, demonstrating an ability to self solve and lead by example in terms of the ‘what' and the ‘how';
• Demonstrate an ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders;
• Proactive team player with excellent interpersonal skills and able to establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships;
• Able to work under pressure, managing competing demands on time where necessary;
• Focussed on high quality and timely delivery of responsibilities and 
• Serve as a mentor to more junior members of the team.

We recognise potential, whoever you are
Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought, facilitated by an inclusive culture, will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.