Financial Accountant

Join Estée Lauder Companies at Whitman Laboratories, where a fifth of the company’s global sales output is manufactured. As a global leader in prestige beauty, we serve over half a billion consumers annually through renowned brands such as Estée Lauder, MAC, Jo Malone London, and Clinique, across more than 150 countries.

We are looking for a Financial Accountant (FTC) to join our Finance team. In this role, you will play a key part in delivering accurate, timely financial accounting and reporting, maintaining a strong control environment, and driving continuous improvement across our accounting processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and deliver month-end close activities, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and adherence to timelines.
• Prepare and review journals, accruals, and prepayments, coordinating inputs with outsourced finance partners where required.
• Complete balance sheet reconciliations, investigating and clearing outstanding items.
• Produce monthly reporting outputs, including P&L and balance sheet analysis with clear variance commentary.
• Support budget and forecast processes with analysis and insight.
• Take ownership of defined accounting areas (e.g., intercompany, leases, fixed assets/capital expenditure, departmental expenses).
• Ensure compliance with company accounting policies and internal controls; support execution of SOX controls (documentation, testing, and audit support).
• Support statutory and regulatory reporting requirements, including year-end processes and external submissions.
• Lead R&D Tax and Capital Allowances claims, coordinating data preparation with internal stakeholders and external auditors.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (e.g., Operations, Engineering, Facilities/IFM) to support financial understanding, cost management, and expense tracking.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, controls, and reporting efficiency; support system and process enhancements.

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Part-qualified (ACCA/CIMA) or actively studying (or equivalent experience).
• 2–4 years’ relevant financial accounting experience, including month-end close, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with financial systems.
• High attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Analytical, proactive, and comfortable taking ownership of assigned areas.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills, with a collaborative approach.
• Exposure to a controls environment (e.g., SOX) is beneficial.