The Finance team / function on a daily basis can have responsibility for a wide range of tasks, such as audit, tax, accounting and reporting, regulatory reporting, tax compliance, process improvement work, reporting to the Head Office, producing analytical reviews and management information, etc. As the “number 2” to the head of department, you will be involved in all aspects of Group financial management, from preparing management accounts to acting as a key partner to the year-end audit process and overseeing both internal and external bookkeeping resources. This position requires excellent accounting knowledge, advanced Excel skills, and experience with financial systems such as Xero or SAP. Profile Criteria: Fully-Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with ideally 3-5 years PQE Ideally someone who has gained professional training from a small to medium sized chartered accountancy practice combined with industry experience, but will also consider those with Big 4 training or those who have purely worked in industry Ideally industry experience from the real estate investment management, private equity, asset management or alterative investment management sectors. Will also consider those from wider financial services Strong foundation of financial control and corporate reporting experience Group consolidations experience Good social skills / EQ and a confident communicator who can build relationships with the business and work in a social and collaborative environment Self-starter who is able to plan and organise their work effectively and work independently, as well as with a team, while having a proactive and conscientious work manner to own or take the lead on several key tasks to support the head of department Bonus (but not essential): financial modelling skills (at any level to be further developed in this role) Responsibilities / Tasks: • Steer the month-end close process for the UK group, including consolidation of subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, ensuring timely and accurate reporting under IFRS. • Prepare and take ownership of monthly management accounts, including conducting detailed analytical reviews to provide meaningful insights into financial performance. • Provide key support to the Group audit and statutory audit processes, liaising with auditors to ensure all audit requirements are met. Support external accountants with the preparation and review of statutory financial statements for the Group. • Oversee the Group’s cash management, including setting up and reviewing payments across the Group. Manage cash flow to ensure adequate liquidity and financial efficiency. • Assist in the annual budgeting process and support re-forecasting throughout the year. • Prepare/review journals and VAT returns, along with providing support on Group corporation tax. • Act as the key point of contact for auditors, external accountants, and colleagues in London and North America, ensuring effective communication and coordination across teams. • Oversee internal and external bookkeeping resources – happy to be hands on when required – ensuring accuracy and completeness of financial records. • Ensure adherence to internal control policies and procedures (representative of being part of a listed business), driving improvements where necessary to maintain high governance standards. • Support ad-hoc projects as directed by the head of department.