Associate, Group Accounting (Madrid)

About Permira

Permira is a global investment firm that backs successful businesses with growth ambitions. Founded in 1985, the firm advises funds across two core asset classes, private equity and credit, with total committed capital of approximately €80bn. The Permira private equity funds make both long-term majority (Buyout) and minority (Growth Equity) investments in four key sectors: Technology, Consumer, Healthcare, Services. The Permira credit funds support businesses with flexible financing solutions across Direct Lending, Strategic Opportunities and CLO Management. Established in 2007, the firm advises investment funds and products which have provided approximately €20 billion of debt capital to over 300 businesses.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Permira is searching for a professional, ambitious and driven qualified accountant (or equivalent) to join the Group Accounting team.Reporting to the Southern EU Finance Manager in Madrid, this position offers a broad mix of accounting and finance responsibilities, balancing day-to-day execution with involvement in complex group matters. The role provides early exposure to cross-functional projects and international collaboration, making it an excellent platform for professional development. The role involves working across Spain, Italy, and Guernsey.Permira’s Firm Finance team is based predominately across Madrid and London, but with members also in Luxembourg, New York, Tampa, Hong Kong and a growing number of our European offices. The Firm Finance team totals 25 FTE and the overall Finance function (including Fund Operations) is in excess of 45 FTE.

The role requires close collaboration not only within the broader Finance function but also with other key departments such as Operations, Tax, HR, IT and Legal. The successful candidate will work closely with outsourced providers and auditors, developing strong cross-functional and external relationships.

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• Execute monthly closing processes and maintain ledgers under UK, Spanish, and Italian GAAP.
• Review financial statements and accounting information prepared by outsourced providers.
• Support ad-hoc financial analysis and reporting projects as required by management.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of accounting processes, identifying opportunities for efficiency and automation.

Accounts Payable & Controls – Backup (Procure-to-Pay)

• Provide backup support across the full procure-to-pay cycle, ensuring invoices, expenses, and payments are processed accurately and on time.
• Review and maintain supplier master data, including bank details and contact information, to ensure accuracy and continuity.
• Review reconciliations and assist in resolving discrepancies with suppliers or internal teams as needed.
• Manage bank accounts and corporate credit cards, ensuring proper execution and control of payment processes.

Recharges

• Support the end-to-end recharge process across Portfolio Companies, Aborted Deals and Intra-Group entities.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation and posting of recharge invoices, with proper coding for reporting.
• Monitor invoice settlement, resolve discrepancies, and ensure accurate ledger allocations.

Audit

• Assist with audit requirements, ensuring deliverables are completed in line with agreed timetables.
• Prepare and review annual statutory accounts for the Southern European entities.
• Support internal control reviews and ensure compliance with corporate policies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Development

• Serve as backup for the Advisory Fees and Abort Costs processes, ensuring timely and accurate execution.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, within and outside the finance function, developing and maintaining effective lines of communication, including with Tax, Legal, Operations, HR.
• Travel within the Firm’s network (principally Milan, Guernsey & London), together with attendance at Permira’s global professional events (Expected travel – approx. 10 - 20%).

We are looking for someone with a strong work ethic, who can work as part of a close team, but also be a self-starter. The successful candidate should be professional, with excellent communication and inter-personal skills, and the ability to use initiative and sound judgement to make this role a success within a leading global Private Equity Firm.

Desired experience:
o Qualified accountant (or equivalent) with minimum of 3-5 years Post qualified experience
o Sound understanding of financial accounting and reporting processes
o Experience of working with major ERP systems and reporting tools would be useful but not essential (Onestream and Infor Sun). High level Excel skills.

Key attributes
o Highly driven and motivated individual, with the patience and ambition to build a rewarding career within private equity
o Excellent organisational skills. The role requires the individual to be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously across a variety of products and work streams
o Highly personable, with the desire and ability to create relationships across the Group’s network
o Strong communication skills
o Excellent teamworking skills
o Proactivity and initiative
o Excellent written and spoken English; Italian preferred

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