Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status.
About Us
Our teams are putting the world's retailers online using the cloud, robotics, AI, and IoT. We provide services to partner clients globally via our innovative advanced robotics technology, known as the Ocado Smart Platform ("OSP"), this drives our highly automated, multi-million pound Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs). In our CFCs - together with the proprietary software applications - we operate a world-class online grocery business that automates the single pick of products, ready for your online delivery.
About the role
Excellent opportunity to join Ocado on a 9 months FTC, working closely with the Senior Finance Manager and Finance Manager to lead the Half Year and Year end processes on behalf of Accounting. As the Senior Finance Accountant, you will work closely with the External Reporting team and wider Accounting ensuring a quick resolution to audit requests.
Accountabilities
- Coordinating the production of the back-end HY and YE statutory accounts and ensuring preliminary sign off takes place on the accounts (including Stat Accounts, Disclosures, regulatory reporting) to other Finance Teams such as External Reporting
- Preparation of the Primary Financial Statements (Income Statement, EBITDA reconciliation, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, SOCIE)
- Provision of accurate numbers for all disclosures in the annual report and statutory accounts
- Liaising with the wider accounting team to ensure adherence to group accounting policy (set by the in-house technical team) and IFRS, converting from local accounting practices (e.g. US GAAP) where appropriate Substantiating account/general ledger balances and providing first level commentary
- Monitoring and Reviewing Ocado's Suspense account (including challenges and working with wider finance teams to identify and resolve balances)
- Ensuring specific balances in relation to Ocado's share plans are correctly allocated out of Suspense to relevant payroll accounts
Improving the monthly reporting cadence, assisting in system remediation projects and testing (where required)
- Preparing and monitoring the monthly period-end calendar, challenging any push-back on tasks and understanding the knock on impact to GL close
- Maintaining the Chart of Account files on a monthly basis, ensuring the approved CoA requests have been actioned correctly
- Preparing Balance Sheet reconciliations for Eliminations, Equity and Suspense Accounts and raising any discrepancies appropriately
- Assist in managing the HY and YE post-close adjustment process and updating the Extended Trial Balance as required
- Posting EPM and Fusion post-close adjustments during HY and YE only
- Monitoring 'default' cost centre report and ensuring Nil balances in 'default' cost centre
- Complete ONS surveys and other ad-hoc regulatory requirements
- Building excellent relationships across Finance, working to resolve issues in in a timely manner
- Providing oversight; understand variances and proactively identify problems and opportunities to standardise, streamline and improve processes and accuracy
- Support the global process owner for record to report processes by driving process efficiency, effectiveness and compliance working closely with the Continuous Improvement team
- Driving process governance and measuring process effectiveness
- Working with and supporting senior members of Group Accounting to improve the service offering.
- Seeking continuous improvement and constantly challenging the team to improve standards
- Building and developing a high performing and engaged team, creating a culture of excellence
- Driving the professionalisation of Ocado reporting and raising the bar on quality
- Supporting internal control and audit processes and the safeguarding of Ocado assets
- Embedding a culture of controls within the team, responsible for operating effectiveness of all key controls within the department's processes and remediation of any control weaknesses
About you
- Relevant financial qualifications ACA/ACCA/CIMA
- Knowledge of relevant finance systems and experience in a fast paced global environment
- Deep understanding of the business and relevant business processes
What we offer you
Our employee benefits are designed for you, we care about people and we've ensured we have a wealth of benefits that focus on your well-being. We regularly review our benefits to ensure we are supporting our employees appropriately.
30 days 'working from anywhere in the world' policy
Wellbeing support through dedicated apps and an Employee Assistance Programme
25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase)
Pension scheme (various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%)
Generous Private Medical Insurance (within the first month of joining!)
Income Protection (can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance (3 x annual salary)
22 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete)
Train Ticket loan (interest-free)
Cycle to Work Scheme
Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station to the Hatfield offices
Free shuttle bus to and from Welwyn Garden City Train Station to the Welwyn Garden City offices
Opportunity to participate in Sharesave and Buy as You Earn share schemes
15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees (within the first month of joining!)