Ford & Stanley Interim- The Rail Recruitment specialists are seeking an Assistant Accountant to support our Rail client in the delivery of strategic business planning and decision making.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to support a thriving digital rail business that is leading the way bringing the UK's rail infrastructure into the 21st century.

The aim of this role is to support the Financial Planning Analyst / Finance Manager in the delivery of strategic business planning and decision making, via robust financial planning and analysis, throughout the business cycle.

Location: Bradford on Avon

Role and Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the FM, tasks shall include, but not be limited to:

  • Supporting the budget / mid-term review (MTR) process, from 'cradle to grave',
  • Supporting cost reporting structures to monitor cost centre expenditures on a monthly basis
  • Supporting forecast of future financial performance, based on current/predicted revenue and cost profiles

Budgets / MTR process:

• Setting up the document management system (DMS) structure for each budget / MTR cycle
• Managing / policing the DMS process, from 'cradle to grave'
• Taking appropriate minutes for each review meeting
• Responsibility for maintaining the Excel integrity of the cost centre input workbooks (data / formulas)
• Ad hoc tasks requested by the Financial Planning Analyst/FM
• Supporting improvements, including efficiency, auditability, documentation, single point of failure

Cost management:

• Reporting to cost centre managers on their costs
• Working with Financial Accounts to correct miscodes, agree line-by-line GL detail, align cost understanding
• Supporting monthly cost centre meetings to discuss costs, variances, and action plans
• Supporting cost reduction exercises, including reporting to management
• Supporting improvements, including efficiency, auditability, documentation, single point of failure

Essentials

• Good knowledge of budgeting and cost control
• AAT part qualified / qualified or time served experience
• Sage 50 experience or similar package
• Advanced Excel user
• Very good attention to detail with strong organisation skills
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver outputs in tight timescales
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience in maintaining safeguards / validation checks in Excel
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Work closely with cost centre managers, whilst maintaining the independence of a Finance Professional
• Ability to clearly explain financial concepts to non-financial people
• Experience of using and / or creating Excel models