Financial Accountant (Permanent Role) | Energy & Infrastructure | Central London, Manchester or Ipswich (Hybrid Working) | £62,000 + Bonus & Excellent Benefits

Robert Half are partnering with a leading UK energy organisation delivering one of the country's most significant long-term infrastructure programmes. As the programme continues to develop and progress through its next stages, the finance function is growing, creating an exciting opportunity for a Financial Accountant to join the Financial Control team.

The role can be based from either the Central London, Manchester or Ipswich office, with hybrid working available.

This is a newly established, hands-on financial accounting role requiring someone with proven experience in both working capital management and stock/inventory accounting. The successful candidate will take ownership of working capital reporting, inventory records and month-end analysis, while contributing to wider financial reporting, technical accounting and control activities. Candidates with backgrounds in manufacturing, FMCG, retail or other stock-intensive industries are likely to be particularly well suited to this opportunity.

About the Role

• Take ownership of working capital reporting, including detailed reconciliations, management analysis and monthly KPI monitoring.
• Develop and produce the month-end working capital reporting pack, including variance analysis and insightful commentary.
• Identify opportunities to improve working capital forecasting, budgeting and reporting processes.
• Support the design and development of inventory accounting processes, taking full ownership of maintaining and controlling inventory records.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations, investigate and resolve reconciling items, and improve the accuracy and auditability of financial schedules.
• Support the preparation of monthly management reporting and annual statutory financial statements.
• Assist with regulatory reporting and monthly submissions for consolidation.
• Provide technical accounting support, including preparing accounting papers and assessing significant transactions against IFRS requirements.
• Support internal and external audit queries, ensuring robust supporting documentation and financial controls.
• Develop, maintain and strengthen internal control frameworks, including the controls matrix, policies and procedures.

About You

• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA or CIMA), although finalists with just 1-2 exams remaining will also be considered.
• Strong, hands-on financial accounting experience, particularly across month-end close and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Demonstrable working capital experience, including accounts payable, accounts receivable and inventory/stock accounting. This is a key requirement for the role.
• Practical experience managing or accounting for stock/inventory, ideally gained within manufacturing, FMCG, retail, distribution or another stock-intensive environment. This is a key requirement for the role.
• Experience managing working capital balances, understanding cash flow movements and producing meaningful working capital analysis.
• Strong understanding of Procure-to-Pay and Order-to-Cash processes.
• Background gained within an industry environment, ideally manufacturing, construction, infrastructure, energy, FMCG or retail.
• Excellent technical accounting knowledge, particularly IFRS.
• Experience of the Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) model would be advantageous but is not essential.
• Candidates from pure audit backgrounds are unlikely to be suitable, as this role requires practical, financial accounting experience and direct involvement in working capital and inventory accounting activities.

What's on Offer

• £62,000 base salary.
• Up to 5% annual bonus.
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional holiday.
• Generous pension scheme - up to 7.5% employee contribution and 15% employer contribution.
• Hybrid working, with offices available in Central London, Manchester or Ipswich.
• Access to a benefits portal, offering additional benefits such as private healthcare, electric car schemes and discounted gym memberships.

Why Join This Business

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing Financial Control team at an exciting stage in the development of a major UK infrastructure programme. As the business continues to evolve, you'll have the opportunity to take ownership of key financial accounting activities, help establish and improve processes, and gain exposure to a wide range of complex accounting areas.

You'll work closely with experienced finance professionals and interact with stakeholders across the wider programme, giving you valuable commercial exposure beyond traditional financial reporting. From working capital and inventory accounting through to regulatory reporting, technical accounting and financial controls, the role offers the opportunity to develop a broad and valuable skill set within the energy sector.

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