Compensation & Benefits Accountant

Overview

As Compensation and Benefits Accountant you ensure accurate recording, reporting and control of employee compensation and benefits across the Group. You work with Finance, HR, Payroll, Tax, FP&A, Legal and external auditors to maintain strong financial control and provide analysis, reporting and accounting guidance. Your work supports month-end close, disclosures, and the Directors Remuneration Report, with a focus on accuracy, compliance and continuous improvement. This role offers impact through shaping controls and processes in a financially complex, listed-company environment.

Responsibilities

• Own compensation and benefits accounting, including payroll, bonuses, pensions and share-based payments
• Prepare and review journals, accruals, prepayments and provisions for compensation and benefits
• Calculate and challenge incentive accruals to reflect latest business expectations
• Support accounting for share-based payments and long-term incentives with IFRS considerations
• Maintain clear accounting documentation and ensure consistent policy application
• Contribute to Directors Remuneration Report for the Group’s Annual Report
• Lead month-end close for compensation and benefits and ensure balance completeness
• Prepare reconciliations for payroll-related accounts and resolve items promptly
• Provide analysis of costs vs budget/forecast and assist in financial statements and disclosures
• Maintain strong financial controls, review segregation of duties and support audit requests
• Support FP&A with compensation and benefits forecasting and headcount planning
• Partner with HR, Payroll, FP&A and Tax to ensure proper accounting treatment
• Translate data into financial insight and identify process improvements and automation opportunities
• Share expertise with Finance and the wider business to drive accuracy and continuous improvement
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of IFRS, payroll accounting requirements and Group policies
• Support finance transformation related to payroll, HR and compensation data
• Undertake other accounting and control responsibilities as needed

Key requirements

• Qualified accountant (2-4 years post-qual ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)
• Strong experience in financial control, management accounting or financial reporting
• Experience accounting for payroll, bonuses, pensions, share-based payments or other employee benefits
• Knowledge of IFRS, IAS 19 and IFRS 2 desirable
• Experience with month-end close, reconciliations, accruals and provisions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Controls and governance mindset with audit support experience
• Excellent Excel and data analysis capabilities
• Strong written and verbal communication, stakeholder engagement
• Proactive, adaptable and able to simplify and automate processes

• analytical thinking
• stakeholder collaboration
• proactive problem-solving
• IFRS knowledge
• Excel and data analysis
• experience with payroll, HR or finance systems

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