Company Description Steps Real Estate is a Qatar-based brokerage and property management company with over a decade of experience in the real estate market. The firm offers a wide range of advisory services, including sales, leasing, property management, and marketing across multiple platforms. Steps Real Estate works with residential, commercial, and industrial properties, focusing on providing suitable solutions that align with client needs. The company emphasizes client satisfaction and aims to deliver outstanding service in all aspects of real estate and property management.
Role Description:
The Senior Accountant is responsible for managing the accounting operations of Steps Real Estate's UK Branch together with such other Company entities, branches, or operations within the European Union as may be assigned from time to time. The role ensures the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting across all assigned jurisdictions, maintains full compliance with the relevant local statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements in each country, and supports consolidated group reporting. The role acts as a key finance business partner to local management and the Group Head Office, and requires the ability to work confidently across multiple regulatory frameworks, currencies, and reporting standards.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Multi-Entity Financial Reporting & Accounting
Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for the UK Branch and each assigned EU entity/branch, in accordance with UK GAAP/IFRS and, where applicable, local EU accounting standards.
Manage the month-end and year-end close processes across all assigned countries, ensuring deadlines are consistently met in each jurisdiction.
•Reconcile general ledger accounts, bank statements, and intercompany balances across the UK and assigned EU entities.
Maintain fixed asset registers and oversee depreciation and capitalization schedules for each entity under the role's responsibility.
Support the preparation of consolidated financial statements, ensuring consistency of treatment across jurisdictions.
2. Multi-Jurisdiction Compliance & Taxation
• Ensure full compliance with UK tax obligations, including VAT returns, corporation tax computations, and HMRC filings.
• Ensure compliance with the tax and statutory filing obligations applicable in each assigned EU country, including local VAT/OSS filings, corporate income tax, and other indirect taxes, working closely with local tax advisors.
• Monitor changes in EU and local tax legislation relevant to the Company's operations and flag implications to management in a timely manner.
• Act as the primary point of contact for external auditors, tax advisors, and regulatory bodies in the UK and in each assigned EU jurisdiction.
• Coordinate statutory audits across all assigned entities, preparing supporting schedules and audit documentation and liaising with local audit firms where required.
3. Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis
• Lead the preparation of annual budgets and periodic re-forecasts for the UK Branch and assigned EU operations.
• Conduct variance analysis between actual results and budget/forecast at entity and consolidated level, explaining key drivers by country.
• Provide management with clear, actionable financial insight and country-level performance analysis to support decision-making.
4. Multi-Currency Cash Flow & Treasury Management
• Monitor cash flow positions across the UK and assigned EU entities, and manage relationships with local banking partners in each jurisdiction.
• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable across all assigned countries to ensure efficient working capital management.
• Manage multi-currency transactions and monitor foreign exchange exposure, escalating material risks to management.
• Review and approve payment runs across jurisdictions within delegated financial authority.
5. Internal Controls, Systems & Process Improvement
• Maintain and strengthen internal financial controls in line with the statutory requirements of each assigned country.
• Standardize and harmonize accounting processes across the UK and EU entities wherever feasible, while respecting local statutory requirements.
• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline multi-entity accounting processes and improve reporting efficiency.
• Support the administration, configuration, and enhancement of accounting/ERP systems used across the assigned entities.
6. Cross-Border Coordination & Stakeholder Management
• Liaise with local accountants, bookkeepers, tax agents, and advisors engaged in each assigned EU country, ensuring quality and consistency of financial data.
• Collaborate with Sales, Property Management, HR, and other departments on financial matters affecting the UK and assigned EU operations.
• Ensure alignment between the UK Branch, assigned EU operations, and Group Head Office on financial policy, controls, and reporting standards.
7. General Duties
• Perform any other reasonable tasks or responsibilities as assigned by management, consistent with the nature and seniority of the role.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent); qualified or finalist candidates preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years' progressive accounting experience, ideally within real estate, property management, or a related sector.
