Job Description

This is a critical role within the Carl Zeiss Vision UK finance team, which requires a driven, ambitious and enthusiastic Financial Accountant to drive best-in-class practices and policies governing accounting and tax matters. The role is responsible for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the financial ledgers and to support Finance Manager and Financial Controller.

This role provides a great opportunity for someone passionate to make an impact in the company and the finance function.

Responsibilities

• Driving the month-end close processes, including, but not limited to, journal review and posting, balance sheet reconciliations, commercial reporting and ledger closes.
• Support the completion and submission of group financial reporting obligations
• Collate and prepare (liaising with professional advisers where necessary) applicable tax returns and filings ready for the Finance Manager/Finance Controller to review and approve.
  • Quarterly UK VAT returns
  • Quarterly Hungarian VAT returns
  • Corporation Tax computations and returns
• Support annual interim and year-end financial audits
• Support generation and timely filing of UK statutory accounts
• Ownership of the Zeiss Optical equipment finance processes (VTS), including but not limited to customer rebate generation, customer and commercial query resolution, new customer on-boarding, reporting, quoting and invoice management.
• Identifying and implementing improvements and efficiencies to general ledger and other financial processes and supporting faster uptake (e.g. driving efficiencies in VTS process)
• Drive optimisation of internal and external reporting processes and requirements to create capacity to focus on more value-added activity
• Supporting the Finance Manager with preparation, monitoring and reporting of working capital and Free cashflow position
• Supporting the Finance Manager with preparation and monitoring of budgets and forecasts
• Provide proactive coaching, support and direction to other members of the accounting team.

Essential Criteria

• Proven academics: Degree qualified or equivalent
• Chartered or Certified Accountancy Qualification: CA/ACA/ ACCA/CIMA
• Hands on experience using SAP
• Up-to-date knowledge and understanding of FRS101 and IFRS
• Sound understanding of best-in-class financial control environment requirements
• Demonstrated experience of full end to end month end ownership
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including stakeholder management and engagement skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Resilient, Self-aware and open to change
• Challenging and continuous improvement mindset
• Experience coaching and developing other members of the team
• Proficient in all MS Office applications

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of UK VAT rules and filing requirements
• Experience with data visualisation tools (Power BI, Tableau or equivalent)
• Understanding of credit control function operations

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Abbie Walters