Lead Financial Accountant

Equans is looking for a Lead Financial Accountant to join our team in Newcastle on a 12 month FTC basis. This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package.

Reporting to the Financial Accounting Manager to lead and manage a team at the Shared Service Centre in the delivery of accounting services to the Equans UK BU efficiently and effectively and in line with the agreed SLAs.

The role holder will have a strong background in accounting principles, financial analysis, and regulatory compliance, ensuring accurate financial statements, efficient accounting operations and delivery of UKBU and Group requirements.

What will you deliver?

• Lead, manage and develop the Financial Accounting Team in the delivery of high-quality accounting services for the Equans UK BU so that the reported results are robust and reliable;
• Accounting records are maintained in accordance with Group accounting policies and IFRS;
• The delivery of robust and timely month end and key control processes for all entities managed and alignment of these processes across all entities supported by the Accounting Services team ensuring:
• All processes are performed correctly and delivered to an agreed and maintained timetable. This includes management of control accounts, Coupa PO accrual, POEM, GRIR, central allocations, management charges and other recharges, capex, accrued income (Reports Analysis key process), fixed assets, payroll and all associated balance sheet accounts;
• Journals are appropriately reviewed and approved to ensure their compliance with Group accounting policies and IFRS, especially where significant in size or where accounting judgement is required, and that team leaders and team members are adequately trained to review the journals allocated to them, ensuring the source data is as accurate, adequately supported and appropriately approved;
• Intercompany matching policies are applied (across profit and loss, cash flow and balance sheet for actuals, budgets and forecasts) across the UK BU perimeter and there is management and coordination of transfer pricing to ensure all intercompany transactions are appropriately priced, monitored, recorded and managed in coordination with the UK BU tax team; and
• Mid-month bookkeeping activities are adequately performed, such as balance sheet account reconciliations, so that no significant issues are left pending or undiscovered;

• Own and maintain SAP financial master data for UKBU Companies under the responsibility of the Financial Accounting Team;
• Management of the Financial Accounting Team under the SSC risk management framework, to include the documentation of the team risk register, mapping and scoring of corresponding controls and the implementation of action plans to address any control weaknesses;
• Any process failures are immediately addressed by investigating root cause and implementing new processes, procedures and follow-up monitoring, so the issues never recur;
• Deliver best in class customer service to internal and external stakeholders/customers. Manage delivery under the SLA,. Establish, own and monitor performance for the Financial Accounting Team against agreed service level agreements;
• Deliver agreed initiatives that provide continuous improvement to the UK BU finance team. Challenge existing ways of working to maintain a continuous improvement culture;

What can we offer you?

On offer is a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2x times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who are we looking for?

• Qualified Accountant, with a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience.
• Demonstrable experience leading teams of qualified and non-qualified staff in a fast-paced reporting environment;
• Experience in managing key business and client relationships;
• Strong technical knowledge and accounting skills, in IFRS and UK law;
• Demonstrable experience in developing and applying internal control frameworks;
• Excellent planning and administration skills;
• Well-developed influencing and communication skills;
• Strong project/programme management skills;
• Ability to credibly influence and challenge at all levels within the organisation; and
• Experience in challenging the status quo and fostering an innovative mindset within teams.

Who are we?

Equans is a world leader in energy services with nearly 100,000 employees working in more than 50 countries, with an annual turnover of over 17 billion euros.  

In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of technical, FM, regeneration and energy services – with specialist capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district & embedded energy and decentralised renewables.

Equans’ 13,500 UK & Ireland employees combine these activities to help businesses, public sector organisations and government to embrace the energy transition towards net zero, and also the digital & industrial transitions that are redesigning the way we move, work and live.

Equans is a Bouygues group company.

What’s next?

If this role is of interest to you, please click below to register, apply, and track your progress! A member of our Resourcing Team will review your application and be in touch.

As part our commitment to better reflect the markets within which we operate, we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010. 

At Equans we’re committed to delivering a culture where everyone’s voice is heard and supported. We know the value a diverse workforce creates, delivering better results for our people, customers, and stakeholders. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of what we do, should you join Equans you’ll find a welcoming and open workplace where you’re supported and encouraged to be your true self at work. 

You’ll also have access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, Young Professionals, Veterans and Reservists Network (VaR).

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a re-location package with this job role.  Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check, as noted in the role requirements.

The Equans Resourcing Team supports this job advert. Agency involvement is not required. All related enquiries must come to the resourcing team not direct to Equans Managers.