About Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit www.ashurst.com.

Department/Role overview

The Management Accountant will work as a key member within the Group Accounting team to ensure the timely and accurate preparation of global management accounts and other management information, with a focus on process improvement ensuring that appropriate controls and reconciliations are in place and maintained.

Main responsibilities

Month end Accounting & Reporting

• Responsible for the review of the UK offices management accounts. Including the review of the accruals and prepayments and the associated balance sheet reconciliations for the UK.
• Responsible for monthly global FX revaluations including preparing commentary for senior management.
• Monthly reconciliation of global cash transfers balance sheet reconciliation ensuring cash transfers are posted correctly and any resulting FX is accounted for accordingly.
• Global review of travel, posting adjustments and accruals where required.
• Ownership of global bad debt process.
• Ownership of global hard disbursement provision process.

Annual Budget

• Provide support where necessary to specific business services function annual budgets.
• Adherence to a global timetable.

Year end audit and statutory reporting responsibilities

• Manage the disbursement provisions process and postings.
• Assist senior management with the year-end debtor certification process including review and analysis of certification process outcome.
• Liaise with the external auditors to ensure timey response to audit queries. Specific areas of responsibility will be UK accruals & prepayments.
• Ownership of specific disclosure notes in the annual consolidated statutory accounts.

Additional

• Provide support to senior management and the business as necessary, including supporting strategic project work.
• Drive process improvement within the Accounting & Reporting team.
• Risk and Control: Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with our regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Essential skills and experience

• Accounting qualification (ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA etc) or working towards an accounting qualification with relevant accounting experience.
• Experience of preparing and reviewing management accounts and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Good understanding of FRS 102 and statutory reporting.
• Highly numerate with a good understanding of financial and management information systems
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills, ability to manipulate and make sense of large volumes of data.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, orally or in writing with all levels of stakeholders and staff.
• Excellent delivery skills with a clear track record that demonstrates this.
• Flexible, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Experience of working in an international and multi-currency business, preferably within the professional services (ideally legal) sector.
• Experience of working with Elite 3e or Cognos TM1 would be an advantage.