Assistant Accountant - BGBS (12-month FTC)

Are you a dynamic self-starter with a passion for financial reporting and a keen eye for detail? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment and excel at building strong working relationships? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Purpose: 

The Accounting Services department at Penguin Random House is responsible for all financial services across our group of companies. This includes Purchase to Pay (P2P), Order to Cash (OTC), and Record to Report (R2R) activities. As an Assistant Accountant, you will be a vital part of the R2R team, focusing on month-end close activities, Group reporting, and Balance Sheet control.

Reporting to a Senior Financial Accountant, you will take full Financial Reporting control for one of our group companies, ensuring adherence to internal policies and external legislation. You will liaise with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the integrity of period-end reporting to statutory standards, in accordance with Bertelsmann reporting timetables, and submit reports on our global Finance Reporting portal, Magnitude.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the complete financial and management accounts process for a Penguin Random House Group Company.
• Manage financial accounts activities to ensure strong balance sheet control.
• Assist in the completion of local statutory accounts, filing, and group reporting.
• Ensure plan preparation and other financial account activities are completed accurately, on time, and efficiently.
• Work with key stakeholders within the group company management/financial accounts process to ensure strong controls, compliance, and governance.
• Be the lead contact for the external service provider for all management accounts processes and ensure good governance through regular service reviews.
• Ensure all key controls are performed as documented and tested to schedule.
• Ensure the correct application of group accounting policies.
• Effectively review, control, and manage the balance sheet accounts for the group company.

What you will bring:

• Studying towards an accountancy qualification – AAT Level 2 to 4
• Experience with reconciliations, posted and calculated journals.
• Demonstrable ability to build and maintain strong working relationships at a company level and with key stakeholders throughout the group.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to influence a wide range of people.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Able to consistently meet strict deadlines and produce high-quality information.
• Structured and disciplined in planning and organizing workload, able to work under own initiative without supervision.
• Able to manage multiple deadlines, projects, and workloads.

As an Assistant Accountant, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our financial reporting processes and contribute to the success of our group companies. You will also have access to ongoing training and development opportunities to further your career.

About Penguin:

We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.

How to apply: Please apply with your CV and cover letter by 23:59 on Wednesday 18th September 2024.

Salary: £22,000 - £24,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus benefits.

Competitive benefits package: Our people are the heart of our business, and we work hard to support a culture of responsibility and recognition.

Our benefits include:

• Financial – discounted shopping, season ticket loan, rental deposit loan
• Wellbeing - healthcare cash plan, employee assistance, gym loan
• Lifestyle – taste card, tech scheme, free and discounted books

For our full benefits list please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/what-we-offer/

Hybrid working:  While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. Hybrid working arrangements will be discussed at the interview stage. 

The recruitment process: You can read about our recruitment process at https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/how-we-hire/

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we're part of the offer an interview scheme. This is where disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can opt in to get to the next recruitment stage. There may be some situations where volume of applicants means we can't take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.

Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.

Company: The Random House Group Limited 

Country: United Kingdom 

State/Region: Essex 

City: Colchester 

Postal Code: CO7 7DW 

Job ID: 273600