Head of Financial Accounting

 

Location: Edinburgh (Hybrid Working)

 

Contract: Fixed term contract | 12 months Full-Time

 

Lead Financial Excellence in a Fast-Growing, Private Equity-Backed Business

 

We are partnering with a high-growth, multi-entity organisation operating across the UK to appoint a Head of Financial Accounting. This is a confidential opportunity to join an ambitious business undergoing significant transformation and expansion, where finance plays a critical role in supporting strategic growth and operational excellence.

 

This is a senior leadership position, responsible for leading the financial accounting function across multiple entities and ensuring the delivery of accurate, timely and insightful financial reporting. The successful candidate will drive reporting excellence, strengthen financial controls, lead a talented accounting team, and act as a key member of the wider finance leadership structure

 

The Role

Reporting to a senior finance executive, you will have responsibility for financial accounting, month-end close, audit management, statutory compliance, IFRS reporting, payroll accounting, fixed assets and capital expenditure reporting across the UK.

 

You will also be instrumental in improving processes, enhancing governance, and supporting the continued development of a best-in-class finance function.

 

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Control

• Lead all monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting activities across multiple entities.
• Oversee the production of P&L, balance sheet and cashflow reporting.
• Manage consolidation processes, intercompany reconciliations and reporting controls.
• Ensure reporting packs are delivered accurately and to agreed deadlines for senior stakeholders.

 

Month-End Close

• Own and continuously improve the end-to-end month-end close process.
• Drive accuracy, efficiency and consistency across multiple finance systems.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are reconciled and reviewed monthly.
• Maintain strong financial controls and governance standards.

 

Technical Accounting & Compliance

• Lead IFRS reporting requirements, including IFRS 16 lease accounting.
• Oversee lease accounting, fixed asset accounting and capital expenditure reporting.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Support internal and external audit activities and maintain audit readiness throughout the year.

 

Business Partnering

• Build strong relationships with operational and functional leaders across the business.
• Provide meaningful financial insight and challenge to support decision-making.
• Collaborate closely with finance colleagues to ensure reporting supports planning, forecasting and performance management.

 

Leadership

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of finance professionals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Drive capability development and succession planning within the team.
• Contribute to the wider finance leadership agenda and transformation initiatives.

 

Candidate Profile

We are seeking an experienced finance leader who combines strong technical accounting expertise with outstanding leadership and stakeholder management skills.

 

Essential Requirements

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualified accountant.
• Significant post-qualification experience within financial accounting, reporting or controllership environments.
• Proven experience leading month-end close and management reporting processes in a multi-entity business.
• Strong IFRS knowledge, including practical experience of lease accounting.
• Experience managing audits, fixed assets, payroll accounting and capital expenditure reporting.
• Strong systems and process improvement capability across ERP platforms and finance technology solutions.

 

Personal Attributes

• Strong commercial awareness and business partnering skills.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident leader with experience developing high-performing teams.
• Able to influence and communicate effectively with both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving and growth-oriented environment.

 

What's on Offer?

• A genuine leadership opportunity within a growing and evolving organisation.
• Significant exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making.
• The chance to shape and improve finance processes, systems and controls.
• Hybrid working and a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Competitive salary, bonus and benefits package.