Financial Accounting Manager

Founded in 2003 by Dong Hyun Kim, his mission was simple, to make fresh and flavorsome sushi and bento available to everyone. Almost 20 years later Wasabi have 41 successful branches across London, other UK major cities and New York.

The journey continued in 2019 with the launch of Wasabi Home Bento exclusively into Sainsbury's. After several years of great success there, the grocery business expanded launching into Tesco in September 2022. Wasabi has now firmly established itself as the No2 chilled ready meal brand and a driver of significant market growth. And we’re just getting started. The leadership team have set out their 5 year strategy which encompasses company growth, franchise and international expansion.

Our menu is renowned for its distinctiveness, freshness and flavour. The cold food range of sushi, pokes and salads are made fresh daily in our branch kitchens and our hot bento, noodle bowls and soups offer an indulgent and comforting alternative to our broad and democratic demographic.

As we prepare for our next phase of growth and innovation, we have an incredibly exciting opportunity for a Financial Accounting Manager to join our Finance Team based in Park Royal.

The Role:

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Financial Accounting Manager to work within our Support Office. As the business grows rapidly this is an exciting and challenging time for the Finance team, and the company as a whole.

This role will own all external reporting, including financial statement preparation and audit, corporation tax and VAT. This role will also manage the monthly balance sheet reconciliation process to ensure a clean audit with no surprises at year end.

The ideal candidate needs to be organised with strong project management skills and be able to command results from cross functional teams. The role will involve working with a number of internal and external stakeholders and will therefore require strong interpersonal skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ownership of balance sheet risks and opportunities holding the balance sheet owners to account, ensuring all reconciliations are completed on a monthly basis, calculating the impact on forecast and therefore creating a ‘no surprises’ culture at year end
• Manage the year end audit and own the full end to end process. Hold the business and our auditors to account to ensure strict timelines are met
• Production of the external statutory financial statements, including single entity accounts and Group consolidated accounts
• Manage the production of our year end tax computations and tax returns and work with our external advisors to ensure strict timelines are met
• Accountable for all technical accounting including impairments, onerous leases and dilapidations
• Ownership for ensuring the business complies with all updates to accounting standards
• Ensure any control weaknesses identified throughout the audit are addressed and resolved
• Preparation and submission of accurate and complete VAT returns to HMRC
• Monthly covenant testing ensuing compliance with bank agreed covenants
• Bank payment approvals
• Cash Flow Budgeting and Forecasting
• Preparation and submission for all compulsory National Statistic Surveys
• Ad hoc work as determined by business needs

Our Requirements:

• Experience of preparing and reviewing balance sheet reconciliations and managing a monthly balance sheet risks and opportunities process
• Experience of having owned and delivered full year end audits from planning through to completion
• Experience of preparing full consolidated financial statements
• Prior experience of NAV is advantageous
• Role-models strong interpersonal and communication skills
• High level of attention to detail
• Ability to command results from cross functional teams
• Organised with a flexible approach, ability to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines
• Must be ACA qualified with experience in a similar role.

In return we provide:

• A great working environment
• Pension scheme
• Target Bonus
• Refer A Friend Scheme
• Free Sushi or hot food (vegan options available)
• 50% discount in our Branches
• Employee Assistant Programme
• Hybrid working model
• Additional Leave after 2 years
• Long Service Awards
• Wagestream - a financial wellbeing benefit that lets you access your pay as you earn it in real time and manage savings
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to work
• Free on-site parking
• A variety of discounts (shopping, food & drink, entertainment and health & fitness) through Perkbox and
• The opportunity to develop your skills within a growing company.

Our people make us who we are. If you're looking for an exciting challenge and this sounds like the job for you please apply today as we can't wait to hear from you.

COME ROLL WITH US!