Overview
Company description
Location: Basingstoke (hybrid 3 x per week in the office)
Employment Type: Full time, permanent
Salary: competitive salary
Hours: 37 hours per week Monday to Friday
Think the AA is just about roadside assistance? Think again!
As one of the UK’s most trusted brands, we provide a wide range of services to millions of customers. From comprehensive Home and Motor Insurance to personalised Financial Services like Loans and Savings, and outstanding B2B, Consumer, Business Services, Driver Training, Car Care, and Service Maintenance and Repair, we’ve got you covered. Our mission is to keep Britain moving, and we’re looking for dedicated individuals to join our team. Ready to join us?
#LI-CL1 #LI-Hybrid
This is the job
This role is responsible for the financial accounting of one of the AA’s largest business units—Roadside Business Services, which generates approximately £320 million in revenue.
Working within the Financial Control team, the role will support the Roadside Financial Controller to ensure accurate management accounting and financial reporting across the division. A key focus will be maintaining accuracy and governance over financial data.
In addition, the role will collaborate with the commercial finance team within Business Services, providing financial insight to challenge decision-making and support the delivery of the division’s value strategy.
What will I be doing?
As part of the Financial Control team supporting Roadside Business Services, you’ll play a key role in ensuring financial accuracy, governance, and strategic insight. Your responsibilities will include:
- ✅ Month-End Management Overseeing the completion of month-end for the Roadside Business Services division, including journal postings, accruals, prepayments, and actuals analysis. Ensuring accuracy and meeting all reporting deadlines.
- ? Commercial Finance Partnering Acting as a key member of the Commercial Finance team, supporting commercial modelling and decision-making across the division.
- ? Reporting & Analysis Preparing and reviewing month-end reports with financial, KPI, balance sheet, and cash flow analysis. Providing insightful commentary and ensuring the integrity of monthly accounts.
- ? Balance Sheet Reconciliations Completing and reviewing all balance sheet reconciliations and financial control tasks, including those prepared by others.
- ? Process Review & Challenge Reviewing and challenging all financial processes within Roadside Business Services, ensuring proper documentation and oversight of manual month-end activities.
- ?️ Controls Framework Leadership Acting as the finance lead for Roadside Business Services in partnership with the central Controls team to support the rollout of the Controls framework.
- ? Accounting Governance & Technical Support Ensuring compliance with accounting standards (e.g., revenue recognition, provisions) and handling technical accounting queries for the division.
- ? Forecasting & Budgeting Consolidating forecast and budget submissions, managing input into planning systems, and forecasting balance sheet and cash flows.
- ? Process Improvement & Automation Collaborating with wider finance teams to streamline processes and enhance reporting automation.
- ? Cash Flow Reporting Supporting cash flow reporting and working with the Treasury team to develop robust cash reporting processes.
- ⏱️ Deadline Management Ensuring all month-end and reporting tasks are completed within required timeframes.
- ? Audit Liaison Serving as the primary finance contact for external auditors during year-end and interim audits. Responding to technical queries and managing audit requests.
- ? Team Leadership Managing, training, and reviewing the work of a direct report.
- ? Controls Project Support Contributing to the Group’s ongoing controls project and helping implement new or improved processes.
- ? Ad Hoc Projects Participating in various projects to support the wider Finance team as needed.
What do I need?
To succeed in this role, you’ll bring a blend of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and personal drive. Here’s what we’re looking for:
? Capability, Knowledge & Experience
- Advanced professional knowledge of accounting principles and practices
- Highly numerate and analytical, with strong verbal and written communication skills
- Technologically forward-thinking and highly IT literate
- Experience with technical tools such as Excel, automation tools, and familiarity with ERP systems like SAP and BPC
- Commercially minded with a strategic outlook
- Energetic, enthusiastic, and ambitious
- Proactive problem-solver who drives issues to resolution
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative team player
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to work independently
- Experience in managing and training finance staff
- A desire to build deep knowledge of AA product performance drivers while strengthening core accounting and controllership expertise
? Education & Qualifications
- Graduate-level education
- Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent) with at least 3 years’ post-qualification experience in an accounting environment
? Personal Characteristics
- Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to prioritise and deliver under tight or conflicting deadlines
- Naturally curious with a desire to understand and challenge the status quo
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
- Tough, resilient, and able to thrive under pressure
- Self-starter with initiative to find solutions and improve ways of working
Additional Information
We’re always looking to recognise and reward our employees for the work they do. As a valued member of The AA team, you’ll have access to a range of benefits including:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays + holiday buying scheme
- Worksave pension scheme with up to 7% employer contribution
- Free AA breakdown membership from Day 1 plus 50% discount for family and friends
- Discounts on AA products including car and home insurance
- Employee discount scheme that gives you access to a car salary sacrifice scheme plus great discounts on healthcare, shopping, holidays and more
- Company funded life assurance
- Diverse learning and development opportunities to support you to progress in your career
- Dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and a 24/7 remote GP service for you and your family
Plus, so much more!
We’re an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. The AA values diversity and the difference this brings to our culture and our customers. We actively seek people from diverse backgrounds to join us and become part of an inclusive company where you can be yourself, be empowered to be your best and feel like you truly belong. We have five communities to bring together people with shared characteristics and backgrounds and drive positive change.
As part of the onboarding process, we complete several pre-employment checks including work reference, credit and criminal record checks.
We may close the vacancy sooner than the advertised date if we get a high volume of applications, please apply now if you are interested.
