Job Description
Cost Accountant
Hours Per Week:
35
Contract Type:
Full Time
Contract type: Permanent Full Time 35 hours per week
Location: Alderley Park
Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based
Join our Group Finance team as a Cost Accountant, where you’ll play a key role in ensuring the integrity of the UK Trading company’s operating cost position. This is an exciting opportunity to support our business with high-quality cost reporting, drive improvements in group-wide accounting, and act as a key point of contact for finance enquiries. You’ll be at the heart of initiatives to enhance cost reporting quality and support strategic projects that make a real impact across Royal London.
About the role
- Manage the financial integrity of BAU and change costs across appointed areas, working closely with Cost Accounting and Business Finance teams to deliver accurate accounting, fit-for-purpose month-end reporting, and continuous improvement in group-wide processes
- Act as a subject matter expert in cost accounting, proactively engaging with stakeholders to improve reporting quality and provide clear guidance on cost processes
- Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations and provide clear supporting analysis for balance sheet and profit and loss movements, ensuring reported results are complete, accurate, and supported by appropriate evidence
- Contribute to period-end financial accounting reviews and monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements, maintaining robust financial controls and governance processes
- Assist with the preparation of statutory accounts and audit deliverables, responding to internal and external auditor requests with clear and timely supporting information
- Build strong relationships across Group Finance, the Group Programme Office, and supported business areas, directing team resources to deliver improvements, document outcomes, realise benefits, and complete post-implementation reviews
- Ensure cost-related business risks are understood, controlled, and mitigated, supporting senior leaders to embed effective risk management practices.
About you
- Newly qualified accountant with a solid understanding of accounting principles
- Experience in cost accounting, management accounting or financial reporting
- Experience supporting the preparation of statutory accounts and external audits
- Good understanding of financial controls and their practical application
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Flexible, self-motivated, and proactive, with a commitment to challenging the status quo and driving improvements
- Confident communicator with strong relationship-management skills and the ability to work effectively with finance and non-finance colleagues
- Well organised, with the ability to prioritise effectively and meet tight deadlines in a complex environment.
If you feel you’d be a great fit for Royal London but don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. Research shows some candidates are less likely to apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria - if you meet most requirements and are keen to learn, we encourage you to apply!
About Royal London
We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.
Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.
We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance.
Inclusion, diversity and belonging
We’re an inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.