Group Accountant - Colney

Location: Lawsons Salfords, Tyttenhanger Farm, Coursers Rd, St Albans AL4 0PG

Position Type: Full Time

About Lawsons

Lawsons Group is the UK’s largest independent fencing, timber and builders’ merchants and now boasts 31 branches, 740 employees and £150 million turnover, founded in 1921 and operates across London and the South East of England.

The Group has grown rapidly over the last 2 years through a number of strategic acquisition’s and we anticipate that we will add at least a further 8 to 10 Branches over the next 9 - 12 months.

Due to the growth of the business and the consolidation of the finance function across the Group, we are now looking for a Group Financial Accountant who will be based at our Head Office in Colney Heath, (close to St Albans). There will be occasional travel to our branches across which stretch from Brighton to Peterborough.

The Role

Responsible for the management of a team of 3 in Finance, the Group Cashier and a Purchase Ledger department of 8 and working with the Group Financial Controller to develop the finance function to the next level.

Key Accountabilities…

Business Partnering with internal and external stakeholders – working closely with our Area Managers and Branch Managers
Manage the month end process and production of management reporting packs along with a succinct commentary.
Oversee the financial modelling and monthly Bank Reporting
Financial Planning – Co-ordinate the Budget and Forecasting Process
Year end and statutory accounting and audit process.
Group VAT return preparation, Intrastat and Customs Clearance.
Rolling Group Cash flow forecast
Develop controls and procedure to ensure that all key issues are identified, communicated and captured in all the appropriate systems. Work closely with our Internal audit function
Improvements to our stocktaking procedures, and reporting – We currently hold c£22.5m of stock
Ad hoc commercial projects, assist with acquisition due diligence and integration.

We would love to meet someone with…

A Chartered Accountancy qualification (ideally who trained in a top 20 practice)
Has 2- or 3 years post qualification experience
Experience leading a team
Passion to get things right and able to work to deadlines
The ability to build relationships and work well with our Directors and Managers.
Proven experience providing reports and KPI’s to Directors on a regular basis.
A solution lead attitude – a real problem solver and can generate innovative solutions.
Confident with Group Accounting.
A track record of exceeding targets.
A high level of knowledge of accounting, tax and reporting standards & principles, including Goodwill and Consolidation Accounting.
Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills.
An understanding of Supplier Rebates.
The ability to analyse the figures and make recommendations
A high level of accuracy and good verbal and written presentation skills

What is in it for you…