Financial Accountant at Chetwood Financial Limited

Who we are & what we do:
Founded in 2016, Chetwood Financial is a digital bank using technology to make people better off. At Chetwood, we think differently. We act differently. Unlike traditional banking models, we’re not obsessed with customer ownership and cross-selling other products. We use our banking and technology experience to design and manufacture stand-alone financial products that meet the needs of those using them and by building unique and dynamic products, we make engaging with personal finances easier than ever before.

We’re always on the lookout for exceptional talent to join the team who share a belief in making a positive difference – making financial services better for customers by challenging conventions.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Financial Accounting Manager, the Financial Accountant is a varied role that would include both oversight and involvement in the monthly accounting processes along with Statutory Reporting and supporting the audit engagement. The ability to grow with the role and a desire to be involved and take ownership is key.

A can-do attitude and a continuous improvement mindset is a must, Chetwood has a multi-product balance sheet, every day is varied and all suggestions are welcomed. You must be technically sound with the ability to interpret and apply financial guidance such as accounting standards.

This is a new role as the business continues to grow and offers the opportunity for the successful applicant to add real value in an exciting, fast-paced, digital bank.

Responsibilities include:
Supporting the Preparation of Financial Statements for the group companies (IFRS) including the preparation of disclosures and supporting working papers.

Various monthly processes and reconciliations to both source systems and external data feeds to ensure the accuracy of month-end reporting in accordance with IFRS.

Assisting with external and internal audit requests, ensuring deliverables are provided in the agreed timeframe, to an acceptable quality.

Assisting in the project management of the audit engagement, liaising with the audit team regarding matters such as outstanding information.

Involvement in a variety of ad-hoc projects across the bank working with various stakeholders across the business.

Research into changes in accounting standards and upcoming required disclosures such as the mandatory climate reporting, understanding impact on the Bank.

With the support of the Financial Accounting manager, drafting papers on technical and judgemental accounting areas in a clear way, that can be equally understood by non-accountants.

The design of new processes and clear process mapping of processes and controls in place.

Support control improvement initiatives across the Finance function, including the design of new controls alongside monitoring the effectiveness of existing controls.

Increasing efficiency of tasks across the team

Preparation of management and statutory journal entries and owning the corresponding balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring detailed support and accuracy of entries

Production of monthly statutory disclosures, improving efficiency at year end statutory reporting.

Working with external advisors on areas such as corporation tax, VAT and R&D claims

Monitoring competitor announcements and communicating across the business.

Coaching and mentoring of junior members of the wider finance team.

Skills and experience

A qualified accountant or soon to be qualified accountant -ACA, ACAS, ACCA

Good excel skills necessary.

Continuous improvement mindset, proactive in looking for better ways to do things, unafraid to challenge the status quo.

Good understanding of IFRS and the ability to interpret complex standards.

Comfortable working autonomously and adept at both managing and adapting the prioritisation of tasks.

Self-motivator with strong planning and organisational skills.

Strong communication and presentation skills, and the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of stakeholders across the business.

Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly explain the ‘why’.

Experience in financial services would be an advantage.

Experience in financial reporting (involvement with statutory accounts and management accounts) or a background in external audit preferred.

Chetwood Highlights

Here are just a few examples of what we’ve achieved so far and what’s coming soon:

Secured strategic investment from Elliott Advisors of £150mil of capital, underpinning the planned growth of the business over the next few years.

Secured a full banking licence from the PRA in 2018 – the only retail bank to do so that year.

Launched the LiveLend Reward Loan; the world’s first dynamic loan that responds to improvements in customers’ credit score.

Secured several distribution partnerships with our lending product and have already seen 400%+ growth in new business since 2019.

Launched SmartSave; providing customers with a simple, online savings account at a great rate.

Achieved and maintained an ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating from both lending and savings customers.

Chetwood Financial Ltd does not accept speculative or unsolicited CVs from Recruitment Agencies.

Any unsolicited CVs received will be treated as the property of Chetwood Financial and Terms & Conditions associated with the use of such CVs will be considered null and void.