Financial Change Accountant

Great Western Railway; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A major rail operator in Swindon is seeking a Financial Change Accountant for an 18-month contract. You'll review and reconcile balance sheets, manage financial system transitions, and document processes. Candidates should have experience in large finance teams, proficiency in SAP or similar ERP systems, and strong Excel skills. This role offers a defined benefit pension scheme and free rail travel across the network.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

Free rail travel

Company-sponsored health care plan

Discounted shopping and gym membership

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience in a large finance team.
• Experience with complex balance sheet reconciliations using large data sets.
• Understanding of SAP S/4 HANA or another large ERP is preferred.
• Experience with financial system changes.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and numerical ability.
• Desire to improve efficiency through innovation.

Responsibilities

• Review balance sheet accounts and resolve differences.
• Develop system transition plans for financial systems.
• Assist with the net asset statement development.
• Prepare information requests for various auditors.
• Identify and implement changes required under FRS101.
• Clear unnecessary downstream SAP balances.
• Document current processes.

Skills

Organised and deadline-driven

Attention to detail

Proposing and implementing process changes

Confidence in challenging the status quo

Capability to prioritise tasks

Team player

Tools

SAP S/4 HANA

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Join to apply for the Financial Change Accountant role at Great Western Railway (GWR)

Join GWR, a proud custodian of one of the UK's most iconic rail networks with a modern fleet and a 91% customer satisfaction score. Every year, we help over 100 million people travel across the South West, South Wales and London.

About the role:

As the Financial Change Accountant, you will play a key role in preparing GWR for its transition to direct government control, focusing on reviewing and clearing reconciling items on balance sheet accounts, improving reconciliation processes, and formally documenting processes where necessary.

Key responsibilities:

• Review balance sheet accounts and resolve differences on reconciliations.
• Develop system transition plans for financial systems (including IFMS) to ensure successful transfer into new instances and post-transfer bedding down.
• Assist with the development of the net asset statement and manage the rundown of balances retained within “Oldco”.
• Prepare information requests for the business, the DfT, internal and external auditors.
• Identify and implement changes required under FRS101 and support the implementation of these changes.
• Clear downstream SAP balances that are not necessary for transfer.
• Document current processes and liaise with DFTO to implement required procedural changes.
• Support Financial Control, other Finance teams, and the wider business as needed.

Qualifications:

• Organised and deadline-driven with an affinity for financial systems.
• Accurate with a keen eye for detail.
• A self-starter capable of proposing and implementing process changes.
• Efficient and confident enough to challenge the status quo.
• Capable of prioritising tasks and pivoting focus quickly.
• Team player who also works independently.

Minimum experience:

• Experience in a large finance team.
• Experience with complex balance sheet reconciliations using large data sets.
• Understanding of SAP S/4 HANA preferred or another large ERP.
• Experience with financial system changes.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and numerical ability.
• A desire to improve the efficiency of current processes through innovation.

Location: Milford House, Swindon (occasionally travel to other GWR locations).

Working pattern: 18‑month fixed‑term, 37 hours per week, Monday‑Friday 08:30‑16:30. Minimum of 3 days a week in the GWR office, primarily in Swindon.

Application: Please apply online via our website https://careers.firstgroup.co.uk/brand-gwr or email [e-mail].

The Reward:

• 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.

We all belong at GWR. GWR is committed to an inclusive environment, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. GWR maintains zero tolerance towards any prejudice towards colleagues, customers, and talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working, and the growth of all colleagues.

We review roles and job descriptions to ensure accessibility and support flexible working. For additional support due to disability or neurodivergent conditions, please follow the link below.

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Contract

Job function: Accounting/Auditing

Industries: Rail Transportation