Average Cost Accountant salary in London

Cost Accountant Salary: £325-350/day PAYE Location: London Keywords: Accounts payable, Fixed asset register, Daily controls, Month end tasks, Budget support, Qualified accountant An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled Cost Accountant. This role offers the chance to work within a close-knit, supportive finance team, where your expertise will be valued. With a competitive daily rate of £325-350 PAYE, this position is ideal for a qualified accountant with at least three years of post-qualification experience who is looking to further their career in an environment that values collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth. The successful candidate will enjoy the chance to partner closely with both front office and support functions, making this an excellent step for those seeking variety and responsibility in their next role. What you'll do: As a Cost Accountant, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of financial processes. Your day-to-day responsibilities will see you managing accounts payable activities from start to finish, maintaining meticulous records, overseeing payment processing, conducting regular creditor reviews, and providing essential support to colleagues across various business areas. You will also take ownership of the fixed asset register for both tangible and intangible assets, ensuring compliance with internal standards. In addition to preparing daily control reports for the accounting system, you will be responsible for key month end tasks such as accruals, prepayments, suspense account reconciliations, and detailed cost reporting. Your ability to partner effectively with both front office staff and support functions will be crucial as you offer guidance on budgetary matters. Success in this role requires not only technical proficiency but also a collaborative approach that fosters teamwork within the finance department. Co-ordinate, oversee, and process payments made to suppliers and employees, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in all accounts payable activities.Conduct weekly creditor reviews to maintain up-to-date records and ensure prompt resolution of outstanding items.Review postings in the accounts payable system, providing guidance and support to other business areas with submitting purchase orders and invoices.Maintain the fixed asset register for both tangible and intangible assets, ensuring all entries are accurate and compliant with internal policies.Prepare and review daily control reports for the accounting system, identifying discrepancies and implementing corrective actions as needed.Perform month end tasks related to costs, including accruals for administrative expenses, prepayments, reconciliation of suspense accounts, and reporting cost versus budget-to-budget holders.Partner with front office teams and support functions to provide expert advice on budget issues, including facilitating requests for exceptional budget approvals.Support continuous improvement initiatives within the finance function by identifying opportunities to streamline processes or enhance controls.Collaborate closely with colleagues within the finance team to share knowledge, resolve queries, and ensure best practices are followed throughout all activities. What you bring: The ideal candidate for this Cost Accountant position will bring substantial experience gained from working in similar roles within banking & financial services. Your background should include hands-on involvement with accounts payable activities, as well as maintaining comprehensive fixed asset registers. You will have demonstrated your ability to prepare robust daily control reports alongside managing complex month end processes involving accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, and cost analysis. Your interpersonal strengths will shine through your collaborative approach when partnering with colleagues across different business areas on budgeting matters. A keen eye for detail coupled with analytical thinking ensures you can spot inconsistencies swiftly while contributing positively towards process enhancements. Above all else, your willingness to share knowledge within a small yet highly effective finance team sets you apart as someone who thrives in communal environments where mutual support is valued. Hold a recognised accountancy qualification (such as ACCA) with at least three years of post-qualification experience in a similar finance or accounting role.Demonstrate proven experience managing accounts payable processes including payment processing, creditor reviews.Showcase strong skills in maintaining fixed asset registers for both tangible and intangible assets within a regulated environment.Exhibit proficiency in preparing daily control reports for accounting systems along with performing month end tasks such as accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, and cost reporting.Display excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments including front office teams and support functions.Possess strong attention to detail combined with analytical abilities that enable you to identify discrepancies quickly and implement solutions efficiently.Bring experience supporting budgeting processes by partnering with stakeholders on budget issues or exceptional approvals.Demonstrate adaptability when responding to changing priorities or supporting process improvements within the finance function.Show commitment to knowledge sharing by working closely with colleagues in a small team environment. What's next: If you are ready to take on this rewarding Cost Accountant role within a supportive finance team in London's thriving private banking sector, we encourage you to apply now! Apply today by clicking on the link provided, your next career chapter awaits! Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates

Your new companyYou will be working for a UK-based private bank that specialises in wealth management services for high net-worth individuals. This role will be a 12-month maternity cover looking to start in January 2026.Your new role Oversee the AP activities - All Payment made to suppliers/employees, recharges, weekly Creditor and COUPA posting review, COUPA champion and Requester for FinanceMonth-end tasks in relation to costs- reconciliation of Suspense Account, G&A accruals, prepayments, reporting cost v budget to Budget holdersResponsible for the Fixed Asset Register for Intangibles and TangiblesValidator in SAP and ME ApplicationPrepare and review Daily Sap controlsSupport the wider business with Budgets What you'll need to succeedYou will be a fully qualified accountant with strong experience in cost accounting. You will have ideally worked within banking or wider financial services and enjoy working within a very collaborative environment.What you'll get in returnFlexible working options available.What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd):Regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority, Duncan Lewis Solicitors was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in the City of London (Fenchurch Street EC3M), with offices nationwide. We are recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK independent legal directories as a top-tier law firm in all of our key practice areas – “a diligent and professional team that is prepared to go the extra mile for its clients”. A paperless law firm with over 500 personnel that embraces hybrid-working, we service both corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 areas of law across 60 languages. We give people a voice - that is our ethos.Recognised among The Times 200 Best Law Firms, we have been awarded Law Firm of the Year at the 2024 Lexis Nexis Awards and 2023 Modern Law Awards, reflecting our dedication to legal expertise and client service. We hold Investors in People Gold Standard accreditation for over 15 years, showcasing our commitment to professional development. Duncan Lewis is also Law Society Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO 27001 certified, ensuring excellence in practice management and data security.We are committed to recruiting dedicated and talented professionals and welcome applications from exceptional candidates. At Duncan Lewis, we value training and diversity, and we take pride in our inclusive workforce.The Role:The ideal candidate will be joining an established team of Costs Lawyers/ Draftspersons with offices nationwide to assist and support billing process and recovery to the legal profession. You will have strong technical knowledge and experience of drafting bills and excellent negotiation skills. The company is looking for Law Costs Draftsman with significant Legal Aid experience to 'hit the ground running'.Main Responsibilities of the Role:Report directly to ManagerDrafting / preparing inter partes bills of costs, costs budgets; and points of reply/disputeDrafting inter partes bills with Legal Aid elementDrafting Claim1’s, 1a’s and VHCC/HCCP caseDrafting of estimates of costs to accompany Allocation Questionnaires and Pre-Trial Checklists.Negotiations of Bills including attendance at CCMC’sOverseeing the Issuing of the Notice of Commencement and associated documentsWorking to deadlinesAttendance upon Detailed Assessment Hearing as and when necessaryProviding technical / costs guidance to fee earners where requiredAssist junior members of the team to complete post –assessment work, with training and ad hoc queriesMaintaining accurate time costing proceduresImplementing any recommendations made by your supervisor following monthly meetings ensuring that these are dealt with promptlyEnsuring compliance with file managementInternal training and reviewing the ongoing costs management process.Key Skills Required:A strong academic backgroundHave at least 1 –2 years’ experience as Law Costs DraftsmanAbility to draft an IP bill of costs (preferably with some LAA experience – 3 & 6 column bills)Ability to prepare costs budgets and have experience in the sameAbility to draft schedule of costs and breakdownsAbility to negotiateAbility to draft Points of ReplyAbility to work on their own and within a teamAbility to risk assessAbility to provide sound advice to client’sAbility to set matters down for assessmentHave an understanding of Part 8 procedureAdvocacy would be desired but not essentialWork to achievable targetsFamiliar with Costs Master would be useful but not essentialHave good Excel skills and Microsoft skillsThe recruitment process will fully comply with GDPR and other applicable laws. Background checks including CRB / DBS checks will establish your eligibility to work in the UK and suitability to the role.Equal Opportunities:Duncan Lewis is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity of its staff. The Company strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, which is reflective at all levels within our workforce. We guarantee an interview for candidates that disclose a disability and meet the essential requirements for the post. Please provide additional details in your covering letter if this applies.