Senior Financial Accountant – Financial Operations

Job Purpose 

The Senior Financial Accountant – Financial Operations is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the company's financial records and ensuring the accurate recording of financial transactions from source documents through to the Income Statement and Balance Sheet. This hands-on role requires ownership of the financial operations, including reconciliations, financial controls, and timely month-end reporting. The successful candidate will work closely with Operations to improve processes, strengthen controls, drive efficiencies, and support sustainable business growth.

Own the Company's financial accounting function and be accountable for:

• Accuracy of the Income Statement
• Integrity of the Balance Sheet
• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Cashflow integrity
• Month-end close
• Financial reconciliations
• Internal financial controls
• Process optimisation
• Operational financial support

1. Financial Accounting & Reporting (30%)

• Manage the General Ledger, prepare monthly management accounts, journals, accruals and provisions.
• Review Balance Sheet accounts and investigate financial variances.

2. Accounts Receivable & Payable (20%)

Oversee debtor and creditor functions, including ageing, reconciliations, payment runs, collections and query resolution.

3. Reconciliations & Financial Integrity (20%)

• Ensure accurate bank, GL, balance sheet, debtor, creditor, intercompany and control account reconciliations.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies.

4. Process Improvement (15%)

Review and improve financial processes, controls, automation and reporting efficiencies.

5. Leadership & Collaboration (10%)

Mentor the finance team, collaborate with Operations and promote accountability and continuous improvement.

6. Governance & Compliance (5%)

Ensure compliance with company policies, accounting standards, statutory requirements and audit readiness.

What Success Looks Like

Within 12 months, the successful candidate will:

• Take full ownership of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet
• Strengthen financial controls and reconciliations
• Improve debtor and creditor management
• Implement process improvements
• Build a strong partnership between Finance and Operations

Main Requirements

Minimum 8 year's Accounting experience in an operational finance environment, with expertise in General Ledger management, month-end reporting, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, cash flow management, ERP systems, financial controls, high-volume transactions, and leading finance teams

Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• ERP Accounting Systems
• Financial Reporting & Management Accounting
• Reconciliations
• Cash Flow Forecasting
• Financial Analysis
• Process Improvement

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded with high integrity
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Effective communicator
• Adaptable, collaborative and a natural leader

Critical Success Factors

• Takes ownership of financial results
• Understands and investigates transactions
• Resolves issues proactively
• Delivers accurate, timely financial reporting
• Continuously improves processes and controls

This Role Is Not Suited To

• Candidates seeking a review-only role
• Those with limited operational accounting experience
• Audit-only professionals without commercial finance exposure
• Individuals who escalate issues instead of resolving them