The Role

Reporting to the Financial Controller for Construction and Group, the Group Accountant will be responsible for the consolidation of all key financial reports, such as the monthly management accounts and budgets and forecasts. They will be responsible for ensuring that the consolidated monthly management pack has appropriate and sufficient analytical commentary on variances to budget and that accounting treatment is in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and internal accounting policies.  The Group Accountant will also be responsible for the financial management of the Observatory (OBS) ledger which contains the business enabling fixed assets, all Member Contribution revenue and accounts receivable as well as our investment accounts.

The post-holder will be the main co-ordinator of the year end process, ensuring that accurate consolidated financial information and reconciliations are prepared and they will co-ordinate external audit requests for information. 

The Group Accountant will be responsible for the documentation of accounting processes and provide input to accounting and finance policies for the SKAO. They will also help to re-design any weak processes to ensure that the IGO operates in line with best practice and/or regulatory or legal frameworks, and that processes are followed consistently across the global finance teams.  The Group Accountant will create and improve training and guidance on finance processes to the wider business.

The role would suit a candidate with experience of working in a small-medium group finance function, who has a willingness and enthusiasm to continuously improve finance processes, is keen to understand and tackle technical accounting questions, and is able to organise decentralised finance teams to report consistently and on time.