Financial Accountant - 12-month Fixed-Term Contract - Global Private Equity Firm - Up to £70,000 - Central London (with hybrid working)

Our client is an award-winning Private Equity firm with an impressive track record of performance. With offices in London and New York (and 11 other offices globally), the company has an excellent reputation in the market and has been a growth story. Their Finance function are now recruiting for part-qualified, Finalist or fully-qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) Financial Accountant on an initial 12-month fixed-term contract to take responsibility for reporting for a key international entity, as well as assisting with various other tasks across the team. The company offers hybrid working (3 days in the office and 2 from home) along with a positive working environment and collaborative/friendly team.

Profile Criteria:

1. Part-Qualified, Finalist or Newly-Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) candidate with accounts production experience from industry
2. Industry experience ideally from the investment / asset management, financial services or banking sectors preferably from a small or medium sized firm (but definitely open to those who have also worked outside of financial and also within a large company in a hands-on accounting role)
3. Well-rounded accounting skills covering statutory / financial accounts production, hands-on involvement with core month-end processes, experience leading or assisting with the audit, etc.
4. Cost accounting and reporting experience would be nice to have, as this team focuses on the cost-side
5. Immediately available or on a 1-month or less notice period (important)
6. Excellent communication skills and a social personality
7. Proactive and conscientious work manner

Responsibilities and Tasks:

Monthly Accounts

Taking ownership of the Hong Kong entity

1. Working with Accounts Payable and the Management Reporting team to ensure all accruals are captured
2. Bank reconciliations across all entity bank accounts
3. Reconciliation of balance sheet accounts (bank accounts, trade creditors, intercompany, etc.)
4. Month-end journals (payroll, accruals, prepayments, etc.)
5. Finalisation of month-end trial balance for allocated entities
6. Preparation of commentary on variances to feed into the overall management reporting pack

Year-end accounts and annual audit

1. Assisting with the preparation of financial statements, acting as the primary contact for external auditors for the Hong Kong audit, resolving queries and supporting timely audit sign-off
2. Supporting the annual audit for other group entities as required

Tax filings

1. Preparation of the VAT return

Regulatory and other returns

1. Preparation of regulatory returns for the Hong Kong entity, supporting the timely review and submission of returns
2. Acting as cover for other regulatory returns, including those for the USA and Singapore entities
3. Ad hoc surveys/returns across all jurisdictions

Transformation

1. Providing input into transformation activities related to new processes and procedures