Group Financial Accountant

Summary:

As Group Financial Accountant, you will produce the interim and annual statutory reports—including consolidated reports—for HDF Group companies.

You will prepare the annual regulatory accounts and Annual Performance Report (APR) for South East Water Limited, while managing both annual and ad hoc filings with Companies House.

Working across departments, you will ensure full regulatory compliance and handle Ofwat queries in a timely manner.

Additionally, you will deliver accurate financial management information, collaborate with Investor Relations to ensure proper group financing, and support day-to-day treasury management and debt servicing.

Main responsibilities:

• Preparation of financial statements for companies in the HDF (UK) Holdings group in compliance with financial reporting standards (IFRS and UK GAAP).

• Preparation of regulatory accounts, Annual Performance Report and supplementary documents for Ofwat in compliance with Regulatory Accounting Guidelines.

• Liaison with external auditors and provision of information to the auditors in support of the financial statements and regulatory audits.

• Manage treasury activities, including daily cash requirements and drawdowns, cash forecasting, group loans administration and interest reporting. 

• Reporting on loan facilities, providing input for investor reports, monitoring of financial ratios and covenant compliance to ensure covenants are not breached. Liaison with Company Secretary and bond holders.

• Maintenance of accounting records for companies other than SEW. Preparation of management accounts, budgets and forecasts for all companies other than SEW.

• Prepare financial information for SEW budget and forecasts including forecasts of interest and liquidity requirements.

• Liaison with other SEW departments and external organisations as required to ensure reporting requirements and deadlines are met.

Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) or exceptionally part-qualified (final stage) and studying to complete their qualification.

• A good understanding of UK and international Accounting Standards and the relevant aspects of company law.

• A good understanding of Regulatory Accounting Guidelines (RAGs).

• Strong financial, numeracy and Excel skills including accuracy, attention to detail and the ability to operate complex financial systems.

• Strong analytical skills.

• Good communication skills (written and verbal) in dealing with internal and external contacts across all levels of organisations.

• Understanding financial performance in the context of the business and its statutory and regulatory environments.

• Conscientious and organised to ensure accurate records are maintained and reporting and payment deadlines are met. 

• Resilience to manage under considerable pressure and able to manage their own priorities and workload within the deadlines set for the role. 

• Several years’ experience in a financial reporting role at a similar sized company.

• Experience in maintaining accurate accounting records and preparing management reports.

• Experience in preparing individual company financial statements.

• Experience of using accounting software.

• Working with established financial accounting policies, procedures and processes.

• Experience in the application of financial controls in a financial environment.

 

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Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.

• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.

• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.

• Paid volunteering days.

• Cycle to work scheme.

• Health cash plan.

• Life assurance.

• Wellbeing related benefits.

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What can you expect from your recruitment?

• To apply for this position, please submit your CV on our career’s website.

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.

• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

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If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, apply now!

South East Water kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Resourcing team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Compensation package:

£55,000 to £60,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)