We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Financial Accountant to join our Bertelsmann Global Business Services (BGBS) team based in Frating, Colchester on a full-time permanent basis.

Reporting to the Head of General Accounting, this role will be responsible for handling the financial reporting for selected companies within the non-publishing side of the group. This will include internal management reporting, contribution to the Bertelsmann global consolidation and external UK statutory reporting processes. The main goal is to ensure both internal policies and external laws are followed, with strict compliance with standards and guidelines.

You will collaborate with internal and external parties to guarantee accurate reporting at the end of each period, aligning with Bertelsmann’s reporting schedules.

Key responsibilities:

• Owner of the complete process for some of the Bertelsmann Group, delivering financial and management accounts activities
• Manage the financial accounts activities to ensure strong balance sheet control
• Assist in the completion of local Statutory Accounts and group reporting for the global Bertelsmann consolidation
• Ensure financial account activities are completed accurately, to time and efficiently
• Work with key stakeholders within the Bertelsmann Group management/financial accounts process to ensure strong controls, compliance, and governance
• Be the lead contact for the management accounts processes for entities that you are tasked with overseeing
• Responsible for ensuring all key controls are performed as documented and tested to schedule
• Ensure correct application of Group Accounting Policies
• Effective review, control and management of the Balance Sheet Accounts for selected group companies
• Manage the Balance Sheet control review process and identification of material risks and opportunities
• Ensure measured challenge of the selected group companies Balance Sheet applying commercial experience and understanding alongside the rigour of balance sheet control and compliance
• Manage and develop a team of up to 3 people
• Assist in the effective delivery of year end, half year and interim audits
• Liaise with Bertelsmann Internal Audit team and Compliance Accountant on any relevant Internal Audits
• Complete and review relevant financial controls as required

 What you'll bring:

• You will be a qualified chartered accountant with at least two years post qualification experience
• Advanced IT and systems skills e.g. Excel
• Demonstrable ability to build and maintain strong working relationships at a variety of levels
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to influence a wide range of people
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and accuracy
• Able to consistently meet strict deadlines and to produce high quality information
• Structured and disciplined in the approach to planning and organising workload and able to work under own initiative without supervision
• Commercially motivated and able to challenge & probe current data and processes
• A strong team player with interpersonal sensitivity
• Experience using SAP or similar ERP systems is desirable but not essential

The team:

Bertelsmann Global Business Services (BGBS) is a dynamic and innovative division of the Bertelsmann Group, serving leading companies such as Penguin Random House UK, Arvato, and BMG. We deliver top-tier financial services, encompassing Purchase to Pay (P2P), Order to Cash (OTC), and Record to Report (R2R) activities.

At BGBS, we foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

This position is centred within the R2R activity, which is responsible for month-end close activities, including Group reporting and Balance Sheet control for Bertelsmann companies.

How to apply: Please apply with your CV & Cover Letter by 23:59 on Wednesday 1st of May. 

Salary: Up to £54,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role

Competitive benefits package: Our people are the heart of our business, and we work hard to support a culture of responsibility and recognition.  

Our benefits include: 

• Financial – income protection, life assurance, childcare allowance 
• Wellbeing - healthcare cash plan, critical illness cover, health checks 
• Lifestyle – enhanced parental leave, tech scheme 

For our full benefits list please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/what-we-offer/ 

Hybrid working: We’re experimenting with a hybrid way of working that suits the needs of each team. While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect you to work from the office based in Frating, Colchester, approximiately twice a week and work the remaining days remotely.

The recruitment process: You can read about our recruitment process at https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/how-we-hire/

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we're part of the offer an interview scheme. This is where disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can opt in to get to the next recruitment stage. There may be some situations where volume of applicants means we can't take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.

Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.

Company: Penguin Books Limited 

Country: United Kingdom 

State/Region: Essex 

City: Colchester 

Postal Code: CO7 7DW 

Job ID: 269977