Rutherford Cross is delighted to be working exclusively with AGS Airports to appoint a newly created Capital Accounting Assistant 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 Capital Accounting Assistant will support the Capital Accounting Manager to ensure that all the necessary capital and fixed asset accounting entries are posted and accurately reported each month. They will be responsible for processing capital additions, transfers and disposals and all other capital financial transactions ensuring they are accounted for in line with the IFRS guidelines and Group policies and procedures.

The post holder will be able to develop strong relationships with other Finance and Business functions to work collaboratively to enable efficient and accurate management account preparation and reporting. The candidate must possess month-end accounting skills, detailed analytical skills and the ability to problem-solve. Finally, the candidate must be able to demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.

The role is an important contributor to the AGS Group Finance function and is trusted to produce accurate and timely management and statutory accounts and supplementary reporting. It requires a clear understanding of the business strategy, competitive pressures and the necessary financial arrangements required to achieve its goals.

The Capital Accounting Assistant 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.

Responsibilities

• Support the accounting and reporting for capital and fixed assets for the whole AGS Group
• Ensure that, each month, all capital and fixed asset financial transactions for the airports are accounted for accurately and in line with the timetable
• Review all fixed asset transactions for the month and ensure that they are correct, posting any required journals
• Prepare and post all other journal entries that are required to ensure the financial results are accurate
• With assistance from the Capital team and other Business functions, ensure capitalisation of staff time is accurately reflected in projects
• Ensure the Group’s monthly depreciation charge is accurate and posted in line with the month-end timetable
• Support the accounting for IFRS16 leases and maintenance of supporting schedules
• Develop excellent working relationships with Capital Team members to capture actual results accurately and ensure works not invoiced are substantiated and fixed assets created timely
• Compare the monthly results to the budget and/or forecast to identify and double-check any significant variances
• Prepare the monthly management accounts supporting schedules, in particular the fixed asset grids
• Process fixed asset additions, disposals and transfers and maintain supporting schedules
• Process the periodic asset valuations for each Airport in the accounting ledgers
• Reconcile the Airport fixed asset registers to the general ledger and investigate and resolve any differences
• Support the management of the fixed asset register, including performing physical verification exercises
• Complete all required legal financial capital returns for the company, i.e. Office of National Statistics etc
• Support the annual statutory accounts inputs and liaise with the Accounting Managers as required, ensuring compliance with the timetable
• Support all aspects of the capital programme and business partnering between finance, capital and business, planning and analysis functions
• Support the annual budgeting and regular forecasting processes with information as required
• Support the Tax Manager in providing accurate financial information for capital allowance calculation
• Assist with the management and forecasting of capital cash flows, liaising with the wider Finance and Capital teams as appropriate
• Support the BPA team in providing historical financial information when required or to show the requestor where, in the system, the information can be found
• Support the continuous improvement processes, challenge current thinking and make recommendations on process efficiencies

Experience

• Previous experience in accounting and month-end processes preferably for capital and fixed assets
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to effectively problem solve and follow through to resolution
• Exhibit the ability and energy to work on their own initiative and be a self-starter
• Experience working in a Business Reporting / Management Accounting environment
• Basic accounting skills to be able to support the production of company management and statutory accounts and other group accounting tasks in accordance with IFRS and Group Accounting Policies
• Ability to build strong, open and communicative working relationships across all areas of the business
• High level of working knowledge of MS Office applications, Excel in particular
• Experience in effectively communicating with and interacting with colleagues at all levels, including senior managers
• Ability to effectively organise work and perform well under pressure
• Experience in working and delivering to tight timetables
• Possess a genuine interest in fixed assets, aviation and transport Infrastructure

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