Financial Accounting Manager

What you'll do
This is a brand new role, created to further strengthen the Benchmark Finance team and add capacity as the Group continues to grow both organically and through acquisition.

• Line management responsibility for 1-3 direct reports and indirect oversight of other areas of finance as relevant.
• The Financial Accounting Manager will be responsible for all centrally managed Benchmark legal entities up to closure of monthly TBs (currently 7 entities with more likely over time via acquisition).
  • Recording of all payments and receipts through the Company bank accounts.
  • Month end journals; accruals, prepayments, provisions, intercompany allocations, etc.
  • VAT and Corporation Tax reporting to Schroders Group.
  • Monthly Balance Sheet reconciliations.
  • Support the Benchmark and wider Schroders Group annual audit as required.
• Management of Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger and Employee Expenses processes. Authorisation of invoices and bank payments in line with delegated authority.
• Preparation of annual financial statements for select legal entities within the Group.
• Work with the Financial Controller, Group Reporting Manager and Finance Business Partner to ensure that Benchmark s finance systems, processes and policies evolve to support changing business requirements.
• Support the ongoing integration of Benchmark into wider Schroder Group Finance systems and processes; including but not limited to migration from locally maintained accounting software to use of Schroders GL.
• Ad hoc analysis in response to Benchmark senior leadership and/or Schroders Group request.

About Benchmark
Our award-winning, proprietary solutions cover regulatory, platform and investment services, and are designed to support advisers at every step of their journey from starting and running a financial advice business more productively and effectively, to accelerating its growth and realising its value.
We support high quality financial advisers with our award-winning technology and support services.

And with our own Financial Advice business, we help families find solutions to meet their needs and aspirations and achieve peace of mind. By providing access to higher quality solutions, we make it easier for them to meet and exceed their goals.

Ensuring good client outcomes, with the client s interests central to decision making, is very important at Benchmark. Treating Customers Fairly principles are embedded within our organisation and we take responsibility for embracing and promoting our duty of care to all clients, including those who may be more vulnerable than others.

The base
You'll be based at our Schroders Campus near Horsham in West Sussex. It has high standards and international reputation, without being in the city: a big, countryside campus means life will feel a little different. We support our offices by using cutting edge software and hardware and our spacious campus facilities mean there's a great working environment for the team. With an on-site restaurant, coffee shop and gym, our campus has much to offer. And commuters can relax on our dedicated regular shuttle bus to and from Horsham s main line train station.

We know that helping you balance personal and professional commitments is a big part of that, so we're open to flexible working. Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA) with a minimum of 3-5 years, good quality, relevant post qualification experience.
• Proficient user of accounting software and advanced Excel skills.
• Ability to accurately process a significant number of transactions, both in terms of value and volume, to tight timelines.
• Operational Finance experience; Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger, VAT, Bank payments and reconciliation
• Experience of IFRS accounting/reporting standards.
• Line management experience including goal setting, performance management, etc.
• Prior experience of financial services, finance automation and/or accounting and integration for M&A transactions would be an advantage, but not essential.

What you'll be like

• Both a strong team player and individual contributor.
• Attention to detail but ability to see the bigger picture.
• Able to work in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment whilst adhering to the process and policies that come with being part of a FTSE100 business.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Embraces and drives change, positively demonstrates a continuous improvement mindset.
• Promoter of the Treating Customers Fairly principles and deliver your own responsibility for the duty of care to our clients.

We're looking for the best, whoever they 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 characteristics.