We’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Financial Accountant located at our Head Office in Westminster.

£65,000.00 per annum, working 37.5 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you’re part of one team? You’ll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

What you’ll do:

The Financial Accountant will lead on all financial accounting activities for the organisation which includes Look Ahead Care & Support and its subsidiaries. Activities include the production of the annual financial statements and regulatory returns. They will manage a team of 2 direct reports.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

• Lead the production of the annual financial statements for Look Ahead Care & Support (LACS) and its subsidiaries.

• Lead the annual year end audit process for the organisation and subsidiaries including liaison with the external auditors.

• Prepare regulatory returns to the Regulator of Social Housing, including the annual FVA and quarterly returns.

• Prepare and submit quarterly VAT, CIS and ONS returns on behalf of Look Ahead & Look Ahead Developments Ltd.

• Lead on the gift-aid calculations and Tax Return preparation for Look Ahead’s subsidiaries

• Lead on the monitoring and audit of cash held throughout the organisation, including customer finances, including planning and carrying out Customer Finance audits at Look Ahead’s service sites. Ensure that all policies and procedures remain relevant and appropriate.

• Lead on the day to day management of the SUN financial system. Ensure the organisation’s chart of accounts and coding structures remain relevant to the business and lead efficiencies and continuous improvement.

• Deliver a comprehensive financial control system that ensures the completeness, accuracy and integrity of the organisations financial systems at a level appropriate to the financial risk. Produce suitable exception reports to identify and rectify any errors arising within the Look Ahead’s financial ledgers. Act as liaison with internal auditors on all matters with regard to Finance controls and systems.

• Co-ordinate and monitor balance sheet and bank account reconciliations across the whole finance team ensuring that they are prepared on time and to a high standard. Ensure that reconciliations are meaningful and items are cleared out in a timely manner

• Maintain an up to date knowledge of accounting regulations, ensuring any changes required to accounting policies are implemented and applied correctly and in accordance with timescales. Ensure that the whole Finance team are up to date with developments in Financial Accounting standards.

• Prepare month & year end journals in order to ensure correct reporting of interest and investments in the management and statutory accounts. Reconcile all the loans, interest and other relevant accounts on a monthly basis. Monitor loan covenants.

• Provide support and backup to the Payroll Specialist where required.

• Ensure the team are managed effectively and have objectives, regular one to ones and that development needs are identified.

• Identify and implement process improvement to ensure processes are efficient and effective.

What you’ll bring:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, networks in local business community
• Approachable and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
• Is assertive and will challenge others
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
• Demonstrates significant confidence and high levels of self-esteem
• Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
• Is passionate and enthusiastic about his/her career and job experiences
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude

Essential:

• Proven experience of leading on the preparation of consolidated Financial Statements for audit and the application of accounting standards.
• Experience of reviewing and analysing financial information and reporting on results.
• Proven experience in consolidation and reconciliations.
• Good attention to detail with ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload to meet agreed deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communications.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Excel
• Proven customer service experience.
• Hold a relevant professional qualification and at least 3 years post qualification experience.

Desirable:

• Experience of using Sun Financials
• Experience of accounting in the social housing sector.

About us:

Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.