Financial Accounting Team Member

Job Title: Financial Accounting Team Member

Responsible to: Finance Lead

Main Purpose

• Follow the agreed processes for the Financial Operations Financial Accounting Function.
• Participate in the day-to-day operation of the Financial Accounting function ensuring compliance with group procedures and to meet all deadlines.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Financial Accounting processes.
• Deliver a strong customer focus and quality service as part of the team

Attitude & Behaviours

• Demonstrates a proactive approach to health and safety at all times.
• The ability to identify and solve problems.
• Can report and analyse data accurately.
• Takes accountability for their own actions and produces service to the quality required.
• Be positive and open to the ideas of others.
• Appraises new ideas and provides alternative solutions.
• Has awareness and works towards clear goals and targets for themselves/team.
• Ensures a clear understanding of change and the ability to seek clarification when needed.
• Shows a positive attitude when dealing with difficult situations.
• Interacts with different teams/departments.
• Fully participates in development opportunities.

Core Responsibilities

Fixed Assets:

• Process additions, transfers and disposals in accordance with procedures.
• Maintain schedules of additions, transfers and disposals processed during the year.
• Run depreciation processes at period end
• Reconcile the fixed asset register to the general ledger at period end. Pro-actively investigate and resolve reconciling items.
• Regularly review the fixed asset register to identify non-depreciating assets and assets that have reached their residual value, taking appropriate action.
• Provide fixed asset reports and other information to operating companies when required.
• Issue fixed asset listing to operating companies on time to enable six-monthly fleet reconciliation.

Inter-Company Balances:

• Review inter-company balances on sales and purchase ledgers and trading balance accounts at period end. Agree balances and post reversing journal from to trading balance account for timing differences.
• Prepare and post inter-company journals for inter-company transactions between UK Bus operating companies and Group.
• Review and agree inter-company balances at period end. Investigate and resolve differences.
• Clear inter-company balances each period by preparing the transfer of funds between bank accounts.

VAT Returns:

• Run purchase, sales and general ledger VAT reports at period end.
• Compile monthly VAT returns using the standard templates. Investigate and explain significant variances
• Prepare and post VAT journals including monthly fuel scale charge and annual mobile phone adjustment.
• Reconcile the VAT control accounts at period end. Pro-actively investigate and resolve reconciling items.

Balance Sheet Reconciliations:

• Download a trial balance into the balance sheet reconciliation template at period end. Reconcile balance sheet accounts under FinOps responsibility.
• Pro-actively investigate and resolve reconciling items ensuring timely clearance of differences.

Other Regular Duties:

• Prepare and post standard monthly journals.
• Run standard Financial Accounting reports in accordance with the month end timetable.
• Provide information to the team leader or manager as required for monthly KPI reporting.

Compliance:

• Comply with Financial Accounting best practice.
• Ensure there is compliance with the FirstGroup Delegated Authority.
• Comply with Service Level Agreements, Task Level Descriptions (TLD's).
• Liaise with internal customers, Group Finance, internal and external auditors and others as required.
• Deliver a strong customer focus and quality service as part of the team.

Health and Safety at Work:

• Be responsible for taking all reasonable care for your own personal health and safety and that of your fellow employees by ensuring that:
• Protective clothing is always used properly.
• Appropriate practices and procedures, relevant to the work in hand are always followed.
• Co-operate with the company by observing all safety rules and complying with any measure introduced to ensure a safe and healthy working environment.

Company Role:

• Understand the Company's business objectives.
• Work closely with all other Team Members to ensure that FinOps is run effectively and efficiently and participate in the transfer of knowledge between departments in FinOps.
• Ensure that the quality of the Company's Finance services is always of the highest standard.
• Contribute to the overall achievement of the organisation's aims and objectives.
• Participate fully in team meetings.

Other Duties

• The post holder will be expected to undertake any task consistent with the post that may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

• Experience in a Finance role using accounting systems
• Computer literate (keyboard skills, Microsoft Excel and email)
• Knowledge of double entry accounting
• Experience of working in the Service Sector
• Experience of working in a high-volume environment

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Good planning and organising skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written)
• Ability to meet tight deadlines
• Adaptable and flexible approach
• Self motivated and able to work without supervision
• Attention to detail
• Quick to learn new skills

Rewards & Benefits

• Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares
• Enhanced maternity / paternity pay
• Flexible working

We put a big focus on physical and mental wellbeing at First Bus. We recognise that anyone can be affected by the stresses and strain of work, or life outside it. You'll find a range of health-promotion initiatives, and you will have 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

Please apply now. We look forward to receiving your application.

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all.