The FA is looking for a Financial Accountant to cover a 12 month maternity cover contract. This role is responsible for the accurate recording and reporting of transactions within the FA Group, along with supporting the Senior Financial Accountant and wider FA finance team on other accounting tasks.

This role will offer excellent development of key technical skills for an individual seeking to progress their career, with a wide breadth of tasks, learning opportunities and exposure to the Group FC, Finance Director and Senior Finance Business Partners.

This opportunity would ideally suit an individual who is 0-2 years PQE and is either looking for their first move out of practice or is currently working in a similar role in industry.

What will you be doing?

Core

The Financial Accountant is responsible managing the FA Group's monthly financial close activity including:
- Preparing and posting monthly journals
- Preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations including liaising with commercial finance to review and challenge variances
- Managing the month-end process to ensure timely reporting (including opening, closing and roll forward of the ledger)
- Preparing monthly timetable and financial accounting calendar
- Prepare, understand and deliver below EBITDA analysis
- Approving changes to the chart of accounts
Review grant income schedules ensuring grant income appropriately recognised and tracked over the life of the grants.
Liaise with commercial finance, reviewing commercial deals and ensuring appropriate accounting treatment
Assisting the Senior Financial Accountant with the internal audit and review processes
Plan and co-ordinate the external audit process (with the support of Group Finance), including managing the day to day relationship with our external auditors
Maintenance of the group fixed asset register and ensuring additions and disposals are properly accounted for in line with the group's accounting policies
Managing relationships across transactional teams (AP/AR/Treasury)
Approval of manual bank transactions and BACS payments in line with the bank mandate
Support the Tax Manager with monthly VAT reporting and quarterly VAT returns
Stakeholder management across the business and external finance teams of other footballing nations/bodies.

Compliance

Day to day external audit management including assistance in preparing the FA Group and subsidiary financial statements
Ensure timely completion of accounts for the FA website, liaising with marketing and communications teams
Maintain group accounting policies
Central point of contact for technical accounting queries
Ensure statutory compliance and filing deadlines are met
Review office of national statistics returns and ensure on time filing

Change

Critically assess processes and lead improvement projects where appropriate
Provide support and assistance to the wider group as required

As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified
0-2 years PQE
Confident and personable who enjoys building and managing strong relationships both internally and with external organisations
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Self-starter who excels at time management and workflow prioritisation
Ability to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines
Ability to understand the broader impact of decisions and ensuring all stakeholders are appropriately engaged

Beneficial to have:

Experience with management of financial accounting systems (Great Plains, Proactis, Management Reporter, Jet Reports)

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and wellbeing.
Free, nutritious lunches, at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
Free private medical cover.
A contributory pension scheme.
An additional Thank You days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave.
A hybrid working model offering flexibility on where you work.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers

Our Organisation

The Football Association [The FA] is the not-for-profit governing body of football in England. It is responsible for promoting and developing every level of the game, from grassroots through to the professional game, and generates significant revenue to support investment into English football each year.

The FA oversees England international teams across men's, women's, youth and disability football, as well as running the National League System and FA Competitions including the Emirates FA Cup, Barclays FA Women's Super League, FA Women's Championship, and Women's Adobe FA Cup, and the world-class facilities of Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park, all with a purpose to Unite the Game and Inspire the Nation.

We currently work within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary.

Your contract with The FA will specify a fixed location of either Wembley Stadium, St. George's Park or our Processing Centre, unless the role is advertised as a homebased contract. The contractual location of this role will be Wembley Stadium.

The FA, For All, For You

Our equality, diversity and inclusion strategy forms an integral part of our long-term commitment to using our influence across English football to create a game free from discrimination.

https://www.thefa.com/-/media/thefacom-new/files/about-the-fa/2021/fa_a-game-for-all-strategy.ashx

A Game For All outlines three key strategic commitments – Lead the Change, Be the Change, and Inspire the Change – which will ensure tackling discrimination remains a core priority for English football for years to come.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

Financial Accountant - 12 Month Maternity Cover Fixed Term Contract