About us: We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland.
We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we're committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That's why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.
SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne / Hybrid Working Available
Contract: Permanent 37.5 hours
Salary: Up to £60,000.00 pa - DOE
At Lookers we pride ourselves on being an organisation that puts both our people and our customers at the heart of everything we do. Innovation and a progressive outlook are vital to our success so we're now looking for an experienced Systems Accountant to join the BI Team in Newcastle.
This is a key position and the successful candidate will play a crucial role in the development of the Group's reporting and Business Intelligence systems. In particular they will be responsible for ensuring that financial data imported into the Group's reporting systems. They will also assist in designing and continually developing a suite of reports in the Group's agreed reporting platform to agreed specification.
The successful candidate will also contribute to design specification and will be expected to offer challenge and suggestion for improvement to all projects.
Additionally the candidate will working closely with the Group Finance function to maintain and develop the Group's existing Management Accounts, Statutory Accounts, Budgeting and Forecasting systems.
Although knowledge of BI reporting tools is preferred, training will be provided as necessary. However, prior experience of report development and reporting systems to a management team is essential.
Key responsibilities of the role are;
Finance Systems & Data Integrity
- Maintain and develop the Group's finance reporting, consolidation, budgeting, and forecasting systems.
- Ensure financial and operational data is accurately extracted, transformed, reconciled, and loaded into reporting and planning platforms.
- Support the ongoing maintenance of finance hierarchies, chart of accounts structures, mappings, and reporting dimensions.
- Investigate and resolve systems, reporting, and data integrity issues.
- Support new business acquisitions, disposals, and organisational changes within finance systems and reporting structures.
- Assist with system upgrades, enhancements, testing, and implementation projects.
Reporting & Process Improvement
- Develop and maintain financial reports, dashboards, and management information that support operational and strategic decision-making.
- Work with Finance and Business stakeholders to understand reporting requirements and translate them into effective system solutions.
- Identify opportunities to streamline financial processes and improve reporting efficiency through automation and system enhancements.
- Support month-end, budget, forecast, and year-end reporting cycles.
- Ensure robust controls and governance are maintained across finance systems and reporting processes.
Business Partnering
- Build strong relationships across Finance, BI, IT and operational teams.
- Provide systems support and training to finance users and stakeholders.
- Contribute to finance transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Challenge existing processes and recommend improvements to reporting, controls, and system utilisation.
- Liaise with internal and external auditors regarding finance systems, controls and reporting processes.
Requirements
Essential
- Experience in a Systems Accountant, Finance Systems Analyst, Management Accountant, Project Accountant, FP&A, or similar role.
- Strong understanding of management accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, data manipulation, and modelling.
- Experience working with finance systems and large datasets.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively with both finance and technical teams.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
Desirable
- Experience of ERP, consolidation, planning, or performance management systems.
- Knowledge of Infor, Power BI, SQL, data warehouses, or reporting tools.
- Experience supporting finance transformation or systems implementation projects.
- Understanding of data mapping, ETL processes, and financial controls.
- Experience of working within a multi-site or retail environment.
- Knowledge of systems such as Pinewood, Keyloop, OneStream, Coupa or similar enterprise platforms.
Core Benefits:
- Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression as you grow within the business
- Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service
- Enhanced family leave, including 6 months' full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeks' full pay for paternity leave
- Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments
Health & Wellbeing:
- Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs
- Smart Health – 24/7 access to GP services to support your mental and physical wellbeing
- Dental insurance for everyday dental care and unexpected treatments
- Optional critical illness cover for peace of mind during life's most challenging moments
Financial Wellbeing:
- MyView PayNow – access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a user-friendly app
- Free will writing services to help plan for the future
- Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection
Leisure & Lifestyle:
- Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle
- Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence
- Access to home and technology vouchers
- bYond card and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts
We strongly believe in nurturing and providing our people with specific manufacturer brand and management training to enhance career development opportunities. We have a great bunch of people, and we like to celebrate and encourage success at all levels.
Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.
If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history and a standard criminal record check. For roles that require you to drive, a driving licence check will also be carried out. Please note, all offers of employment are made subject to a 6 month probation period commencing from your start date.
We take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and are committed to upholding and respecting your privacy rights. Information about how we will process your data including the types of data we collect, the purposes for which we use it, who we may share it with and how long we keep it are set out in our privacy notice. It also includes information about your individual privacy rights. Please make sure you read our Privacy Notice so that you understand how we may collect and use your data.
