Group Financial Accountant

Group Financial Accountant - Milton Keynes Head Office

Want to be the best you can be? It's what drives us too.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Group Financial Accountant to join our finance team on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract.

As a Group Financial Accountant, you will work closely with the Head of Financial Accounting to support with the preparation of the consolidated statutory accounts of Group 1 Automotive UK Limited as well as individual statutory accounts of around 30 UK subsidiaries. This hybrid role will be part of our new finance team based at our new UK headquarters in Milton Keynes where the UK CFO, CEO and Group FC are also based.

This role will involve some project work around supporting the month and quarter end reporting process as well as liaising with our statutory auditors, managing cross-functional relationships, and enhancing reporting and control processes. This role is pivotal in ensuring accurate financial reporting.

Group 1 Automotive UK is one of the leading automotive retailer groups in the country, with a network of over 115 dealerships across the UK and more than 7,000 dedicated colleagues. We proudly represent over 21 world-renowned brands, including Audi, BMW, Citroën, CUPRA, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda, smart, Toyota and Volkswagen. Our mission is to deliver an exceptional customer experience at every one of our dealerships. The UK Group is owned by Group 1 Automotive in the US, a Fortune 250 business.

What we can offer you

• Enjoy 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) to rest and recharge
• Save money every day with our exclusive retail discounts
• Drive a great deal with discounts on new and used cars, plus servicing offers
• Plan for the years ahead with our company pension scheme
• Balance home and work with our industry-leading family-friendly policies designed to help you spend more time with the people that matter
• Commute for less with our cycle-to-work scheme
• Prioritise your wellbeing with dedicated support for you and your family
• 24/7 access to healthcare professionals, ensuring you get the expert advice you need quickly and easily
• Make a difference with a paid day to volunteer in your community
• Invest in your future with our company share purchase plan
• Earn financial rewards when you refer a friend to join the team
• Keep learning and growing with our training and development opportunities for everyone.
• Life assurance with the option to increase cover
• We’re open to flexible working options – just ask

What you’ll do day to day

• Assist in the preparation and ensure accuracy of financial statements for multiple trading entities in compliance with relevant accounting standards and regulations.

• Liaise with the auditors, responding to queries and requests in a timely and professional manner.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across the business to facilitate effective communication and collaboration in aide of ensuring that the information required for disclosure in the financial statements is captured efficiently

• Supporting the finance team in the review and refining of reconciliation processes to ensure completeness and accuracy of financial data

• Supporting the finance team in driving and encouraging the continuous improvement of end to end accounting activities and control process, meeting relevant timeframes - documenting where necessary

• Support the management accounting team as they move onto a new accounting system

• Compliance with auditing standards and Group1 accounting policies and procedures, demonstrating understanding and compliance with Sarbanes Oxley reporting requirements

Helpful skills and qualifications

Don’t worry about ticking off every single skill here − if you care about delivering great experiences as much as we do, we want to hear from you.

• Don’t worry about ticking off every single skill here − if you care about delivering great experiences as much as we do, we want to hear from you

• Proven experience in financial accounting, with a focus on multi-entity reporting and consolidations.

• Familiar of accounting standards under different accounting regimes e.g. FRS 102 and US GAAP (preferred)

• Proficiency in accounting software with advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, sumifs, macros (preferred), financial modelling). 

• Ability to ensure compliance with accounting policies and legal standards. 

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or other relevant professional certifications.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to prioritise tasks and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced high-performance environment. 

We value diversity and believe it strengthens our team. If you don’t meet every requirement listed but are enthusiastic about this role and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply. 

Be part of something big 

Group 1 Automotive is on an exciting growth journey. We are home to over 7000 colleagues dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, with 114 dealerships in the UK, representing 21 brands at the forefront of automotive retail. 

But you don’t need to love cars to work with us - just need to share our mission to create outstanding and trusted experiences for our customers, our partners, and our people 

Our Values

At Group 1 Automotive we pride ourselves on our five core values that are incorporated in all we that do.

Respect - Integrity - Transparency - Teamwork – Professionalism

These are the principles that every member of our team lives by, whether that be business functions, customer interactions, how we interact with the local community and even how we view each other in the team.