Rutherford Cross is delighted to be working exclusively with AGS Airports to appoint a newly created Assistant Accountant position within their existing team. AGS Airports is one of Scotland’s most high-profile businesses, with Aberdeen Airport being the gateway to Europe’s energy capital (and also Europe’s busiest commercial heliport), Glasgow Airport is one of the UK’s busiest regional airports, and Southampton Airport is a vital economic driver for the region, which contributes more £160 million a year to the local economy.

Position Overview

The Assistant Accountant will support the Airport Accountant with the preparation of management accounts, financial statements, audits and business stakeholder relations. The Assistant Accountant will ensure transactional records are accounted for in accordance with the IFRS guidance and Group policies and procedures. The role will report to the Airport Accountant.

The purpose of the role is to help the Airport Accountant ensure all financial information is accounted for and reported on accurately and within strict deadlines. The role holder will be able to organise, prioritise and improve the processes relating to all elements of financial accounting transactions to ensure accurate management accounts preparation.

The Assistant Accountant role will ideally suit a part-qualified (ACCA / CIMA or equivalent) accountant who has experience working a month-end process. A graduate with working industry knowledge would also be considered for this role and must be able to demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepare and post accrued and deferred income journal entries
• Prepare and post accrual and prepayment journal entries
• Analyse general ledger accounts and support the Airport Accountant with accounting analysis
• Ensure that each month, journals are posted in accordance with the journal listing and as instructed by the airport accountant
• Support the airport accountant with the month-end process, preparation of the monthly management accounts and balance sheet reconciliations
• Assist airport accountant with review and analysis of monthly profit and loss account
• Prepare monthly commentaries on the profit and loss account
• Support the interim and year-end external audits through the provision of audit evidence and supporting audit meetings
• Support the statutory accounts preparation and review process, ensuring compliance with the timetable
• Assist with the resolution of aged transactions as well as guide the finance central services team on focus areas such as debtors and creditors
• Support the review of VAT applications on transactions
• Close fully billed purchase orders and liaise with requisitioners on the closure of aged orders
• Complete all required legal financial capital returns for the company, i.e. Office of National Statistics etc
• Ensure participation in and timely completion of all mandatory training
• Develop excellent working relationships with finance team members
• Liaise with business stakeholders on risk, process changes and new initiatives
• Support the annual budgeting and regular forecasting processes with information as required
• Support the BPA team in providing historical financial information when required or show the requestor where, in the system, the information can be found
• Support the Tax Manager in providing accurate financial information for capital allowance calculation
• Support the continuous improvement processes, challenge current thinking and make recommendations on process efficiencies

Experience

• Working knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping & reconciliations
• Working knowledge of a financial transaction system (ERP), particularly Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable
• Proficient in the practical use of Microsoft Office packages (particularly Excel and Word)
• Highly numerate and literate with strong analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels by appropriate means
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan, prioritise and work to deadlines
• The successful candidate will be extremely flexible with a positive “can do” attitude which will have been demonstrated during their application process

To find out more about remuneration and the role, please contact the Rutherford Cross advisor Gillian O’Neil by emailing [email protected].