Job Purpose: The Group Accountant is a key member of the Central Group Finance Team, with responsibility for robust accounting, recharging, and reporting of payroll and fixed asset costs, as well as supporting on financial reporting requirements. The role will also ensure timely completion of VAT returns and ensure accurate capture, accounting and payment of rebates. A key element of the role will be embedding new standardised ways of working and ensuring best practice approaches are adopted. The key deliverable is the accounting of centrally managed payroll costs and processes, ensuring standardised approach across the group to ensure efficiency and accuracy in periodic accounting. Key Accountabilities: Accounting & Reporting: Ensure centrally managed processes such as payroll, tax, insurance, professional fees and rebates etc. are fit for purpose and accounting transactions are recorded accurately Accounting for and reporting of group costs ensuring accuracy, correct cost centre allocations, as well as appropriate recharge to wider business Creation and maintenance of a rebate register. Ensure accurate accounting and payment of rebates ensuring in line with agreements Reconciliation of exceptional costs each period and production of summary for management accounts Calculation and posting of related accruals and prepayments Provision of insightful analysis on these costs including monitoring and review of spend versus budget, investigating variances and highlighting risks and opportunities Ensure fixed asset registers are maintained accurately and posting of periodic depreciation charge Accounting for additions and disposals and provision of associated periodic reporting Support on relevant budget and forecasts Tracking of costs throughout the year versus budget Completion or review of assigned balance sheet reconciliations Ensure intercompany transactions are recorded accurately by both parties, with timely follow up of any variances Support on driving a timely and accurate period end close, supporting the wider business as required in relation to centrally managed costs and processes Completion of VAT/RCT/CIS returns Completion of relevant ONS surveys Other: Support Group Reporting Team on period end close process, audit and other routine reporting requirements as required Support on ad-hoc projects and process improvements Reviewing and developing accounting processes and controls, as well as identifying system improvement opportunities within Sage.