Head Of Financial Reporting & Accounting - Newcastle

Are you a technically strong finance professional eager to build and lead a new financial reporting function?

W&A is supporting a major organisation through a period of significant change, creating an opportunity for a detail-driven senior leader to design and oversee accounting and reporting processes.

This is a 7-month contract role.

The position is hybrid, with around 50% of time required on site in Newcastle.

The Opportunity

This newly created role offers the chance to shape and lead a financial reporting function from the ground up. You will design compliant accounting processes, establish reporting structures, and ensure statutory and regulatory requirements are consistently met. Alongside technical delivery, you will play a key leadership role in building and guiding a dedicated financial reporting team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment of accounting and reporting processes to ensure compliant annual reports and financial statements
• Create appropriate structures and processes to support consolidation and group reporting
• Apply valuation methodologies that produce accurate and reliable estimates
• Ensure financial statements comply with IFRS, FReM and other reporting standards
• Liaise with auditors and external stakeholders to agree timetables and reporting outputs
• Provide guidance and training across teams to strengthen financial controls and data integrity
• Collaborate with tax colleagues to ensure full compliance with applicable regimes
• Prepare analysis, briefing notes, and technical papers for senior leadership

What You’ll Bring

• Excellent technical knowledge of IFRS and financial reporting standards
• Extensive experience of year-end accounts closure, including group accounting
• Proven experience of managing a financial reporting team in a large or complex organisation
• Strong analytical and data interrogation skills
• Ability to present complex accounting judgements clearly to senior stakeholders
• Excellent organisational skills to manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines
• Advanced Excel skills

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of government accounting requirements (RAB, FReM)
• Exposure to public sector or property/housing sectors
• Tax knowledge including VAT, Corporation Tax and provisions

Package & Benefits

• 7-month contract
• Day rate up to £750 (inside IR35)
• Hybrid model with 50% of time in Newcastle
• Exposure to a complex and high-profile organisation

Why Apply?

• Shape and lead a financial reporting function from scratch
• Significant technical leadership role with visibility at senior levels
• Exposure to both group and subsidiary-level reporting in a complex environment
• Attractive day rate and hybrid working balance

To learn more or apply, please contact Andrea Green at andrea@wilkinsonandassociates.co.uk for a private and confidential discussion. Alternatively, submit your CV and we’ll be in touch.