Senior Year-End Financial Reporting Accountant - Banking
We are currently partnering with an established banking institution to recruit an experienced Senior Year-End Financial Reporting Accountant for an initial six-month contract.
This is a key role within the Finance function, requiring a technically strong and hands-on accountant who can take ownership of the Bank's statutory year-end reporting and lead the financial accounts process through to completion.
The successful candidate will have a proven background in Banking, with demonstrable experience managing year-end statutory accounts and leading external audit processes. You will be expected to operate autonomously, quickly establish an understanding of the Bank's reporting requirements and deliver high-quality financial statements within demanding deadlines.
Key Responsibilities
- Take end-to-end ownership of the annual statutory accounts preparation, from trial balance review through to completion of the financial statements.
- Lead and coordinate the year-end reporting and external audit process, acting as a key contact for external auditors.
- Prepare, review and validate statutory financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, supporting schedules and audit documentation.
- Apply detailed technical accounting knowledge across IFRS and FRS 102, ensuring compliance with relevant reporting standards.
- Oversee financial instrument reporting and disclosures, including loans and advances, customer deposits, borrowings and derivatives.
- Review impairment provisioning methodologies and calculations, including IAS 39 requirements for relevant legacy portfolios and comparative reporting.
- Assess and review Effective Interest Rate (EIR) calculations, ensuring the appropriate recognition of interest income, fees and transaction costs.
- Support derivative valuations, fair value accounting and hedge accounting documentation, where applicable.
- Prepare technical accounting papers to support complex judgements, accounting treatments and financial statement disclosures.
- Investigate and resolve reporting discrepancies, challenge proposed audit adjustments where appropriate and ensure all deliverables are completed accurately and on time.
- Work closely with Finance, Treasury, Risk and other internal stakeholders to obtain and validate year-end reporting information.
Requirements:
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Immediately available to start or on a short notice period (max 2 weeks).
- Significant financial reporting and statutory accounting experience gained within a bank, building society or lending institution.
- Proven experience taking ownership of, or leading, the preparation and delivery of annual statutory accounts within the banking sector.
- A strong track record of managing external year-end audits, including direct engagement with external audit teams.
- Advanced technical knowledge of IFRS and FRS 102, with practical experience of banking financial instruments.
- Advanced Excel skills and the ability to work confidently with complex financial data and reconciliations.
- The ability to work independently, manage competing deadlines and deliver with minimal supervision.