Job description
Job Description

Group Financial Accountant

We have an exciting opportunity for a Group Financial Accountant to join the Global Financial Control team, based in the A&O Shearman Belfast office. We are keen to speak to newly qualified Accountants or someone looking for the next step in their career!

Global Financial Control

Achieving the firm’s vision requires a world class Finance department and the Global Financial Control team adds value when the information we produce enables exceptional decision making. The team provides high quality advice and relevant, accurate information to key decision makers in A&O Shearman, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations and delivering our service efficiently.

A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.

What you will do

In this role, you will provide high quality financial information to be used internally and externally. You will assist in implementing changes within the global finance function and across the business as relevant, and implement and uphold best practice and standards across the finance function by acting as an adviser to the global function.

This Will Include

Ad hoc and project and merger work
• This position also involves ad-hoc work which needs to be responded to quickly and efficiently. This will often involve new areas of analysis which will require planning and development and will range from one off tasks to project type
• Assist with mid-year audit activities relating to the merged firm
• Carry out control and accounting reviews for the merged firm books
• Adhoc analysis on financial data

Management and financial accounting

Production of weekly key financial information reports for the management team.

Working as part of a team to deliver month-end group consolidation and reporting to a five working day deadline, including:
• Preparation of inter-company invoices to support cross border transactions in accordance with UK and overseas tax requirements in the jurisdictions where A&O Shearman operate.
• Reconciliation of critical balances, including multi-currency GL accounts for global inter-office accounts.
• Monthly accounting checks on balance sheet accounts of overseas offices that represent key risk of misstatement of financial results.
• Production of month-end reports for the Group and each practice group and office globally.
• Maintenance of month-end processes and procedures to ensure smooth and timely operation.
• Participate in technical accounting topics.
• Analytical review of monthly office results to understand trends, significant transactions and identify errors.
• Preparation of high quality regular and ad hoc financial information, applying critical evaluation and making recommendations suitable for senior management.
• Assist in the management of cross-border intra-group balances and funding on a multi-currency basis, in accordance with UK and overseas tax requirements

Process improvements and Controls
• Assist with the development of processes for increased efficiencies.
• Prepare with training materials.
• Assist in improving the control environment of the Group.
• Review and improve the internal controls across the Group, implementing changes as appropriate.

What you will have

Key Requirements
• Team player with strong communication skills and willingness to collaborate with others to achieve success as a team.
• Self-motivated and solution driven. Ability to work on their own, therefore taking initiative and having a desire to get the job done.
• Ability to work under pressure and take a flexible approach to the job. We report to tight deadlines which are mixed with last minute ad-hoc tasks for management. Must have excellent time management skills and be able to prioritise and handle multiple tasks simultaneously in an environment with shifting priorities.
• Thorough understanding of financial/management information systems and group structures.
• Ability to train other finance department members globally.

Qualifications And Experience
• Member of recognised accounting body as a qualified accountant.

What we can offer you

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, ****** orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.