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Who are we?

GWR is the proud custodian of Brunel's railway - one of the most prestigious networks in the world. We have some of the newest trains in the country and exciting plans to extend our services. With more than one hundred million passenger journeys each year, we carry people to over 275 stations in the South West, from Cornwall and South Wales to London, passing through beautiful country and some of the UK's top tourist destinations.

We are transforming the way people think about train travel, empowering our team of over 6,000 people from all different backgrounds to make it a great experience for our customers. Together, we will revalue rail as a very special way to travel – relaxing, fast, efficient, friendly and fun.

About the team?

The role is based in Milford House Swindon and will be responsible for approximately 20 staff.

About the job?

This position is key to the Financial Control function of GWR. The role has managerial responsibility for transactional finance teams including Accounts Payable, Retail Accounting, Treasury and Catering. In addition, the role will work with the Financial Controller to assess and improve the control environment, and to support the wider finance team with technical challenge/queries

This role should maintain and improve financial controls within GWR, while driving forward system and process improvements and ensuring controls are in place to safeguard GWR's assets and ensue liabilities are settled in an effective manner.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Manage the transactional finance teams (AP, Treasury, Retail Accounting) ensuring efficient, accurate and timely processing and reporting, including ONS reporting.
• Ensuring controls are in place to safeguard GWR's assets and to ensure liabilities are settled in a time efficient and effective manner.
• Ensuring that all transactions are accounted for correctly and accounting policies adhered to, notably for Catering.
• Leading and developing the transactional finance teams.
• Responsible for ensuring transactional finance balance sheet accounts are reconciled on time every period with supporting documentation to justify outstanding balances.
• Maintaining the GWR delegated authority matrix ensuring all GWR managers have appropriate authorisation levels and that this is documented, controlled and published.
• Challenging the business on financial controls associated with all GWR assets and liabilities
• Comply with Group's control procedures, ensuring that all standards and processes are followed per the Finance Manual.
• Safeguard the financial and non-financial data present within the finance office ensuring data is secure and compliance is achieved against internal and external standards.
• Ensuring the smooth running of internal and external audits for your transactional areas
• Ad-hoc analysis work required by Senior management when requested.

You will need to be:

• Qualified Accountant or equivalent with experience working in a large finance team
• An excellent communicator and problem solver
• Able to manage teams and encourage collaboration

As a minimum you will need to have:

• A proven track record in managing teams
• Experience reviewing current processes and controls while also implementing process change.
• Experience reviewing complex reconciliations.
• Experience working with multiple systems and understanding interfaces and associated processes.
• Experience in managing internal and external audit engagements
• People management skills, leading and developing the transactional accounting team.
• Ability to implement process improvements and review existing controls and enhance.
• Ability to solve problems and anticipate issues.
• Strong system skills, including excel, word and ideally SAP Finance.
• Strong communication skills, dealing both with financial and non-financial teams
• Must be professional, confident and act with a high level of integrity at all times
• Knowledge and understanding of accounting principles that underpin the balance sheet.
• Understanding double entry accounting and key financial transactions.
• Knowledge and experience of managing and improving financial controls.
• Knowledge of delegated authority principles and controls.

About the location?

Swindon HQ is close to the Train Station and town centre. We also offer hybrid working but there is a current expectation that you will be in the office 3 days a (which is subject to change). Some travel to other GWR sites for stock counts and training will be required.

Working Pattern?

Monday to Friday, 37 hrs per week.

The Reward?
As well as a great team environment and comprehensive training, all GWR colleagues enjoy a range of benefits including on-going development, defined benefit pension scheme, free rail travel across the GWR network for you and your family, company-sponsored health care plan, discounted shopping and gym membership and an employee assistance programme.

We all belong at GWR. This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/