Senior Accountant - R2R - Intercompany

1 Elmwood, Crockford Lane, Chineham Park
Basingstoke, RG24 8WG
United Kingdom

A job with Merlin isn’t like a job anywhere else. With attractions around the world, from rollercoasters to wax figures, we don’t trade in suits, handshakes or briefcases. We trade in fun. In smiles, shrieks and spine-tingles. In Memories. In magic. But there are no tricks behind our magic. Instead, there are people like you. Passionate, dedicated people who are committed to making sure our worldwide attractions and guests’ experiences are the best they can be.

We are currently recruiting for an experienced and confident Senior Accountant to join our Finance Hub in Basingstoke.

Scope of the role

• Manages a team responsible for the timely & accurate processing of the financial control, accounting & reporting activities in accordance with company policy, performance & quality standards;
• Works with all departments to provide support and coordination through financial reporting and analysis;
• You will be an integral part of the implementation team on delivering the new NetSuite system to the function and ongoing “roll in of new sites” to the new Finance hub;
• You will drive best practice and process efficiencies through the team through continuous improvement using Visual Management methodology and tools.

Main Responsibilities

• Responsible for processing and coordinating period end close activities;
• Complete balance sheet reconciliations including intercompany and liaise with balance sheet owners as necessary;
• Prepare Financial & management reports, and ensure compliance with regulations;
• Supervise accounting activity across international legal entities;
• Managing journal processing through working with site & hub teams;
• Responsible for supporting a wide range of accounting tasks to ensure intercompany transactions are accurately processed and all intercompany accounts are reconciled and agreed with counterparties on a monthly basis,
• Take ownership of the P&L’s and Balance Sheet accounts and pro-actively manage the relevant balance sheet accounts to produce accurate and timely results,
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with our outsourced financial partners, program team colleagues and senior executives of the business, so as to satisfy their financial needs,
• Ensures adherence to intercompany accounting policy through scrutiny of requests, accurate coding provision and approvals,
• Drive standard intercompany processes through principles of simplification, standardisation and automation where appropriate,
• Ensures compliance with accounting and tax statutory requirements;
• Coordinating preparation of Audited Financial Statements;
• Preparing monthly/quarterly internal financial statements with actual to budget results, and preparing regular operational/financial measurement reports.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Fully qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA – 3 years + PQE;
• Extensive experience of month-end close processes;
• Strong technical working knowledge of intercompany practice,
• Experience with complex financial systems landscape and data structures;
• Experience of working with new finance system implementation and stabilisation;
• Experience & knowledge of process improvement methodologies such as Lean, six sigma & of using performance management systems such as “Visual Management”;
• Evidence of building and maintaining strong relationships with key business stakeholders;
• Proactive individual with the ability to both operate strategically and tactically and able to effectively manage multiple challenges whilst maintaining high quality throughout;
• Acts as a key member of organisations leadership community, role models company behaviours and contributes to the achievement of the wider business strategy.

The Benefits

We’re growing fast and alongside a fun and friendly environment, we offer a fabulous package and amazing prospects - ideal if you’re already fantastic and can quickly become even better (our magic can help here). Benefits include:

• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexi-time
• Study support (with agreement to policy) should you wish to further develop your skills and progress in Finance
• Discretionary company bonus
• 33 days’ holiday (including bank holidays)
• Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide, as well as 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% discount on LEGO.
• Excellent working environment located in our new Finance Hub on a vibrant Business Park which offers facilities such as a café, gym and nursery.

Perhaps the biggest benefits of joining us, however, are the outstanding opportunities for career development. We’re an expanding global business so for an ambitious individual there may be exceptional opportunities as you grow and develop.

About us

Merlin Entertainments is a truly global company, operating over 130 attractions in 25 countries. From destination theme park resorts to city centre locations, Merlin has a unique portfolio of brands and attraction formats creating a wide range of visitor experiences.

The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 67 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands – including Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, LEGOLAND and the Eye - and the commitment and passion of its’ managers and more than 25,000+ employees.

Here at Merlin Entertainments we are proud to have a diverse workforce, and we’re all about providing equal opportunities to the whole team. Because of this we are committed to an active all together programme which starts with our recruitment and selection process.