Financial Accountant

The firm

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is one of the world’s leading international law firms. The Firm was established in 1884 and has more than 2,000 lawyers. Headquartered in New York with offices in Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Palo Alto, San Francisco, São Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., the Firm provides coordinated legal advice and transactional capability to clients around the globe.

Description/Job Summary

The Financial Accountant plays a key role in delivering robust financial control across the European business, with primary responsibility for indirect tax compliance alongside a broader role across Financial and Management Accounting functional activities.

Working closely with colleagues in Finance, the Tax team and functional teams across Europe and other STB offices, the role drives engagement with internal stakeholders, external service providers and advisors, ensuring end-to-end process compliance and adherence to internal and external deadlines.

The role requires a self-sufficient team player who can drive work forward, deliver high quality outcomes, manage expectations, escalate when appropriate and keep stakeholders informed at key milestones.

The role is ideally suited to a candidate with broad experience in professional practice, perhaps looking for their first move to an in-house role.

Responsibilities/Duties

• VAT process and filing ownership across the European business;
• Review of existing end-to-end VAT processes including VAT return preparation for our UK, Luxembourg and Belgian businesses;
• Identify root cause deficiencies and work with the appropriate functional team members to remediate issues at source. For example, Billing or Accounts Payable controls and processes;
• Develop controls and checklists to ensure robust VAT return procedures are in place and adhered to, with a clear escalation mechanism in place;
• Develop and roll out training to the Finance team and other colleagues as required;
• Respond to ad hoc queries from colleagues with respect to the appropriate VAT treatment to be applied;
• Prepare the business for future VAT audits and be on point to work with VAT authorities and advisors in the event of a VAT audit;
• Support the preparation of financial and management accounts, including journals, reconciliations, analysis and decision support, working in collaboration with the finance team members responsible for these areas;
• Assist the budgeting and forecasting process by preparing schedules, analysing trends and liaising with budget holders where required;
• Assist with external audit requests by preparing supporting documentation, responding to queries and coordinating with internal stakeholders;
• Support regulatory, statistical and other external reporting requirements as needed.
• Contribute toward process improvement initiatives;
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Finance Manager and work collaboratively with the Financial Accountant, Management Accountant and wider team on priorities, progress and key issues.
  
  

Required Skills

• Degree educated, with a BA in Accounting, Finance or similar preferred;
• ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualified, or nearing qualification;
• Relevant experience gained in professional practice, accounting advisory, audit, financial reporting or a similar technical accounting environment, with an interest in applying that expertise in an in-house role;
• Strong technical indirect tax and accounting knowledge and experience;
• Some exposure to management accounting, including monthly reporting, budgeting, forecasting or variance analysis, would be advantageous;
• Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency in Microsoft Office;
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels;
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced environment;
• Proactive, with sound judgement and the ability to work independently while also partnering closely with the Financial and Management Accountant and wider finance team.
  
  

Details

Salary and Benefits: Competitive

Hybrid: Monday-Thursday in office, ability to WFH on Fridays

Equal Opportunities

Simpson Thacher is committed to ensuring that everyone can reach their full potential, irrespective of background, identity, or circumstance. We know that we are at our best when we bring together diverse experiences and perspectives. This is why we are focused on fostering a collegial environment which maximises collaboration, empowering every individual to thrive and succeed.