Great Western Railway (GWR)
Public Ownership Accountant
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This is a 9-month Fixed Term contract with the potential to be extended.
Salary up to £58,000 depending on skills and experience plus excellent benefits package.
Join Great Western Railway: Proud to Support Our People and Our Passengers
At GWR, we're more than a train company - we're the proud custodians of one of the UK's most iconic rail networks. Every year, we help over 100 million people travel across the South West, South Wales and London, through some of the country's most scenic routes.
About the job:
As the Public Ownership Accountant, you will play a critical role in preparing GWR for transition into direct government control. Reporting to the Head of Finance Transition, you will help drive the delivery of essential changes across financial controls, contracts, financial planning, reporting, systems, and integration or separation activities to ensure a smooth, controlled, and fully compliant transition.
A key focus of the role will be reviewing, resolving, and clearing balance sheet reconciling items, as well as ensuring the accurate migration of balances to newly established finance system instances at the point of transfer. You will lead and support the development of system transition assessments and transition plans, identifying risks, dependencies, and control requirements to ensure financial systems are transfer ready.
You will also support the design and implementation of new financial procedures to meet Department for Transport Operator (DFTO) requirements, play a central role in preparing the net asset statement at transfer, and manage the detailed rundown of balance sheet items that do not transfer to the new entity (“Newco”).
Your main responsibilities will be:
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- Supporting the Head of Finance Transition in delivering the finance workstream for GWR's transition into direct government control.
- Review, resolve, and clear balance sheet reconciling items, ensuring accounts are accurate and transfer ready.
- Lead and support finance system transition assessments and plans, including S4 setup and validation in new system instances, ensuring the bedding down of systems post transfer is successful.
- Assisting with the development of the net asset statement and managing the rundown of balances that are kept within “Oldco”.
- Assisting with the preparation of information requests from the business, the DfT, internal and external auditors.
- Clearing down SAP balances that are not necessary for transfer.
- Documenting current processes and liaising with DFTO to implement changes to our procedures to comply with DFTO requirements.
- Identify gaps in GWR finance processes and mitigate risks post-transfer.
- Supporting Financial Planning, other Finance teams, and the wider business as required.
The Reward
As well as a great team environment and comprehensive training, all GWR colleagues enjoy a range of benefits including:
- on-going development,
- defined benefit pension scheme with the Railways Pension Scheme,
- free rail travel across the GWR network for you and your family,
- company-sponsored health care plan,
- discounted shopping and gym membership
- employee assistance programme and much more.
You'll need to be:
- A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA etc).
- Organised and deadline driven, with an affinity for financial systems.
- Accurate, with a good eye for detail.
- Experience navigating ambiguity in a financial environment with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
- A self-starter with an ability to propose and implement changes to processes.
- Able to work efficiently and be confident enough to challenge the status quo.
- A good team player as well as a strong independent worker.
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As a minimum you'll need to have:
- An accounting qualification.
- Experience in a large finance team.
- Experience with complex balance sheet reconciliations that utilise large data sets.
- An understanding of SAP S/4 HANA preferable or another large ERP.
- Experience with financial system changes.
- Good Microsoft Excel skills and numerical ability.
- A desire to improve the efficiency of current processes through innovation.
About the location:
The role is based at Milford House in Swindon with occasional travel to other GWR locations as required.
Working Pattern:
A 37-hour work week with normal office hours being Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00. A minimum of 3 days a week must be spent in a GWR office.
Application
Please apply online via our website https://careers.firstgroup.co.uk/brand-gwr
If you have any problems applying, please email gwrrecruitment@gwr.com
Our Commitment to Inclusion:
We all belong at GWR. We embrace diversity and ensure equal opportunities for all. Differences in age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability are valued, with zero tolerance for prejudice.
We promote flexible working, review job roles for accessibility, and our support colleagues to thrive within their roles.
If you need adjustments due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, please let us know. 🔗 Exceptional Individuals – Neurodiversity 🔗 Health Assured – Neurodiversity
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