Finance Accountant - Leases and Assets

This posting is for hourly paid logistics employees to apply through.

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

This is a wonderful opportunity to join Ocado as a Finance Accountant - reporting to the Senior Finance Accountant.  You will be responsible for end-to-end lease accounting in line with group policies & practices. This role will also extend to supporting the reporting requirements on fixed assets.  

In this role, you will also be responsible for the production of robust Balance Sheet reconciliations and supports the SFA with group and external reporting activities.

Responsibilities

Accounting, Reporting and Analysis

• The end-to-end Lease Accounting (IFRS 16), ensuring the lease accounting system is up to date
• Recording IFRS 16-related lessor and lessee accounting entries in an accurate and timely manner and managing the lease liability control account
• Variance analysis to Budget, understanding trends and building a Risk & Opps view of Depreciation and Interest charges
• Preparation of lease assets and liability notes and owned asset notes to the accounts
• Lease cash flow reporting of actuals and variances
• The preparation of balance sheet and P&L reconciliations to a high standard with key movements analysed, explained and reconciled
• Working to the general ledger close / Period End close calendar timelines

Statutory and compliance activities

• Support the Half Year and Year End audit process (including providing lease-related disclosures), ensuring that audit deliverables are met, queries are dealt with swiftly and appropriately
• Providing commentary on all key management account lines (mainly IFRS 16-related) as appropriate
• Proving relevant and insightful analysis to support bank covenant reporting and other liquidity management activities

Budgeting and forecasting

• Supporting the SFA to set the annual budget, annual re-forecast; and a rolling 5 year plan

Control environment and continuous improvement

• Embed a culture of controls within the team, responsible for operating effectiveness of all key controls within the team’s processes and remediation of any control weaknesses
• Support the global process owner for record to report processes by continuously driving process efficiency, effectiveness and compliance

About you

• Relevant financial qualifications (Qualified Accountant)
• Understanding of Lease Accounting principles under IFRS 16
• An understanding of core financial processes and relevant systems
• Knowledge of accounting, tax and reporting standards & principles
• Experience with using an EPM system
• Experience in a fast-paced global environment (desirable)
• Experience in delivering great customer / user experience (desirable)
• Experience in process improvement, automation (desirable)

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!)