Job Description

Reporting to

Financial Controller

Function

Finance

Location

Hybrid: 3 days office/ 2 days WFH

Based in London/ Newington or Crawley/ Energy House

Reference Number

76885

Employment Period

Permanent

Contract Type

Personal Managerial Contract

CiP Level / Bonus

10%

Starting Salary

£85,000 - £100,000 - Depending on experience plus bonus and benefits plus managerial car cash allowance

Closing Date

21/05/2023

All applications will be reviewed after the closing date

We also offer :
Annual leave 25 days

Personal Pension Plan – Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)

Tenancy Loan Deposit scheme

Tax efficient benefits: cycle to work scheme

Season ticket loan

Occupational Health support

Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers products.

Supplier discounts, such as O2, EE, Vauxhall cars, Universal tyres

Discounted access to sports and social clubs

Employee Assistance Programme.

Applications are invited for the above vacancy.

About UK Power Networks

UK Power Networks is the UK’s biggest electricity distributor, delivering electricity to 8.4 million homes and businesses. We operate across three licence areas covering London, the South East and East of England.

We are the industry leading and best performing distribution network operator in the UK. As an electricity distributor we are at the heart of the energy transition and facilitating the transition to a net zero carbon future.

UKPN is a company which really cares for its staff and employee engagement is a key strategic goal. UKPN has been ranked as the 2nd in the UK’s best big companies to work for for the last 2 years.

Job Purpose:
Compliance is a core element of UKPN’s strategic vision.

The core purpose of this role is to drive compliance and best practice in respect of external reporting, accounting standards and governance across the Group. The candidate will make sure we are up to date and driving improvement by proactively leading on compliance matters.

This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity for the right candidate, with exposure to Board level, including interaction with the CFO, CEO and at Board level.

Principle Accountabilities:
Provide technical accounting leadership on IFRS/ FRS 102 to ensure compliance and best practice across the Group

Lead projects to review and optimise existing accounting practices

Keep abreast of and lead response to any changes in regulatory requirements, including accounting standards, financial reporting and related governance and controls.

Manage the statutory reporting/ annual reporting process.

Implement change to move the Group towards leading market practice in respect of statutory reporting.

Manage the relationship with the external auditor and the external audit process.

Prepare accounting papers to support and report on technical accounting and governance matters (internal and external including Audit Committee)

Coordinate improvements across the Group in respect of current ESG and Sustainability reporting. Including compliance with TCFD related disclosures.

Assist the development of financial processes and reporting (including statutory reporting) in respect of the Group’s newly incorporated Distribution System Operator (‘DSO’)

Contribute to the improvement in the efficiency and automation of key financial processes relating to financial reporting and compliance.

Support wider finance teams as required, such as Tax and Treasury compliance

To participate in ad hoc projects as required

Nature and Scope:
This is a new role in the finance team, to enhance and drive improvements to existing external reporting and compliance matters.

The Group currently has an established track record of producing and filing audited statutory financial statements in accordance with FRS 102 and in reporting to shareholders in accordance with IFRS.

The candidate will be expect to take a leadership role on technical accounting and governance issues across the Group, to drive best practice and optimise existing processes and to implement a more pro-active response in the Group to such matters.

A key focus will be improving and enhancing current statutory reporting towards best market practice disclosures.

Another key area of focus will be coordinating improvements in respect of ESG and Sustainability reporting.

The candidate will report to the Financial Controller. The candidate will have line manager responsibility for [2] direct reports within the wider Finance Control team (c.15). The role will require close collaboration with the wider Finance function (Tax, Treasury, Business Partnering) as well as other departments (eg Company Secretary, Strategy & Regulation, Risk & Assurance.).

The role will be required to spend 1-2 days per week at the Crawley office (Three Bridges station), 1-2 days per week at the Newington Office (London Bridge/ Elephant & Castle) and up to 2 days a week WFH.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience:
Qualified accountant 5-10+ years PQE minimum (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Strong academics, educated to degree level or equivalent

Demonstrable deep technical accounting knowledge, IFRS and/ or FRS 102

Experience in the application and rollout/ transition of accounting standards

Specific experience in the preparation or implementation of Annual Reports for large or listed UK entities

Knowledge of regulatory requirements relating to UK Annual Reports, including corporate governance, companies act

Experience of preparing technical and governance papers, for internal management and Audit Committee/ Board

Demonstrable Project Management skills

Specific knowledge or experience of Sustainability reporting requirements (such as TCFD) would be advantageous but is not required. A strong interest in this area would be a definite plus

Knowledge or experience of the energy sector, regulated sector or similar would be beneficial

Key Competencies

Technically in the detail.

Motivated to understand and enforce compliance.

Hands on, roll up sleeves and able to work independently and pro-actively on own initiative

Ability to influence Senior Stakeholders. Must be creditable and able to establish senior relationships quickly and effectively and be comfortable/ confidence in knowledge.

An established track record of being able to Project Manage. An ability to evidence success at initiating and delivering projects with multiple stakeholders to deadlines.

Excellent business writing skills – be able to contribute key content fit for external publication.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – able to work productively with stakeholders inside and outside of finance to deliver outputs.

A professional who demonstrates a leadership approach, moves others to action by planning, motivating, organising and controlling work being done.

Offer a high level of commitment.

Assist with development of other less experienced members of staff through coaching/ feedback.

Enthusiastic individual with the ability to work well as part of a team.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they fully understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and particularly where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

Employees need to be aware that for some craft and operational roles that work at height, or use fall arrest devices, there is an upper weight limit of 116Kg due to maximum safe working load of the safety equipment that is used.

If in doubt ask!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

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