Job Purpose

Looking for a new Finance opportunity that offers professional development, flexible working, creative autonomy, and prioritises well being?

The Canal & River Trust is one of the UK’s largest charities, we maintain 2,000 miles of historic canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs, along with museums, archives and the country’s third largest collection of protected historic buildings – preserving them for future generations. Our 1000+ employees care for living waterways that transform places and enrich lives, delivering greater wellbeing to millions of people.

(https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/how-we-make-a-difference).

We have an exciting vacancy within our Finance team for a Corporate Financial Accountant, who will provide direction and influence across the Trust; being the authority on technical accounting and financial compliance matters. 

You will be the key contact with the external auditors and also deputise for the Head of Group Accounting as and when required. Reporting into the Head of Group Accounting you will have a national remit; responsible for the delivery of external Group Reporting, including year-end statutory accounts. This includes: 

• Reporting for and Consolidation of the Trust entity and subsidiaries.
• Representing c.£900m Balance Sheet value and annual income of over £200m.
• Working with 60+ colleagues across all areas of finance (Transactional, FP&A, BPs, Tax, Treasury, Pensions).
• Overseeing one direct report.

See our annual report here:  https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/annual-report-and-accounts

Location

The role will be based working from home, with the allocation of a nearby Hub for collaborative working in either our Leeds, Birmingham, North West, Newark, Gloucester or London offices.

Some travel to other Trust locations, including in-person collaboration with colleagues, can be expected but will be ad hoc and on an ‘as required’ basis.  

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Being a key member of the Corporate Accounting team, we are looking for an engaging and effective finance professional with the ability to take ownership and personal responsibility for key objectives and deliverables.  You will provide support to the Trust's Senior Management Team in all financial reporting requirements, making it essential that you are a strong technical accountant. Through your engaging leadership style, you will educate and inspire others across the Trust and ensure delivery of the highest quality financial information.

Your key accountabilities include:

• Performing all elements of the Trust’s consolidated statutory financial reporting, including preparation of the Annual Report (working with teams across the organisation)
• Responsibility for the year-end process, including ensuring that the audit proceeds in a smooth and effective manner. This includes being the primary contact for audit queries during fieldwork.
• Learning and applying lean techniques to continuously improve processes within the Trust.
• Deputising for the Group Accounting Manager as and when required.
• Assisting with the design and operation of the underlying financial controls to ensure the integrity of financial information.
• Providing advice and technical support where required for other members of the Finance community and Trust staff.
• Improving processes, internal knowledge and controls to provide assurance over the accounting records of the Trust.
• Critically assessing and making recommendations on all areas of Finance at the Trust.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills: 

Technical: 

• Chartered accountant (ACA, CA, ACCA or equivalent), with suitable up to date knowledge of accounting standards.
• Experience of year-end accounting processes and preparation of statutory accounts.
• Experience of working under the Charities SORP reporting standards gained through exposure to charities in industry or practice, desirable.
• Experience and training in external or internal audit, desirable. 
• Experience in working in a continuous improvement environment, using lean techniques to improve processes, desirable.
• Proficiency in SAP FI module and Microsoft Business Intelligence, desirable.
• Experience in leading change implementation, desirable.

General: 

• Self-starter, able to understand key objectives and take personal responsibility.
• A strong understanding of process and of what ’good’ looks like, with the ability to enhance or create financial systems that are efficient, effective and reliable.
• Confidence and ability to use initiative to develop solutions.
• Outstanding organisational skills contributing to overall efficiency in working.
• The confidence and drive to take a visible lead on process and control improvements, not being afraid to innovate and break with previous convention.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to foster strong working relationships and team culture.
• An exceptional communicator, both verbally and in written form, being able to explain complex financial information to people across the organisation.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills (including lookups and pivot tables).

To Apply:  click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV.

If you have any questions about the role please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Applications close: 6th February 2022 - interviews are to be conducted on a continual basis during this period. 

We are currently conducting our interview processes virtually as we continue to respect and follow necessary social distancing guidance to protect our team and our candidates. You may be invited to a face to face further stage interview which will always be conducted following strict social distancing guidelines.