The Role
Maintain and improve finance systems, own the purchase order system and workflows, design SQL stored procedures and automation for financial processes, support reporting, reconciliations and stakeholders, and drive process improvement and system upgrades.
Summary Generated by Built In
Systems Accountant
Up to £54,000 (depending on experience)
London | Hybrid
Full time | Permanent
Role details
- Location: London, Harold Hill (Romford) | Hybrid – 2 days in the office, 3 days from home
- Reporting to: Head of Finance or Director of Finance and Chief Commercial Officer
- Team: Finance & Business Services | Finance
NatCen is looking for a Systems Accountant to support the maintenance, development and optimisation of its finance systems, ensuring they remain accurate, reliable and fit for purpose. This is a hands-on systems role sitting at the intersection of Finance, IT and operational users, with responsibility for finance systems support, process improvement, automation and reporting development.
A major focus of the role is ownership of the purchase order system and its workflows, together with SQL-based automation and finance systems improvement. The successful person will be comfortable working in the backend of finance systems, troubleshooting issues, maintaining documentation, supporting users and identifying ways to reduce manual effort through system enhancement and automation.
This is not a pure management accounting role. It is best suited to someone who combines finance systems understanding with strong SQL capability, logic, attention to detail and a practical approach to solving problems. Experience of finance or ERP systems, reporting, controls and process improvement will be important, and exposure to project-based or commercial environments may help someone get up to speed more quickly.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the maintenance, administration and continuous improvement of NatCen’s finance systems so they remain accurate, reliable and useful to the business.
- Act as a key point of contact for finance systems queries, supporting both finance and non-finance users and helping resolve issues in a timely, practical way.
- Own and manage the purchase order system, including workflows, approval hierarchies, controls and improvements linked to finance policy and process efficiency.
- Design, develop and maintain SQL stored procedures, views and scripts to automate financial processes including month-end, data extraction, uploads and reconciliations.
- Support stronger reporting, reconciliations, analysis and data integrity through effective use of finance systems and backend data.
- Work closely with Finance, IT and wider stakeholders on system upgrades, enhancements, testing, process improvement and future automation opportunities.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- Strong MS SQL experience, including stored procedures, query optimisation and data transformation.
- Good understanding of accounting principles, financial processes, controls and reporting requirements, especially around general ledger, purchase orders and month-end close.
- Experience supporting, maintaining, implementing or upgrading finance or ERP systems.
- Strong systems mindset, with logic, attention to detail and confidence working with system data and backend workflows.
- Ability to investigate issues, improve processes and deliver practical automation that reduces manual effort and improves reporting quality.
- Comfort working across Finance, IT and wider business stakeholders, with clear communication and a service-oriented approach.
Job Benefits
Why join NatCen?
This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of finance systems improvement in a values-led organisation, with real scope to strengthen controls, streamline finance operations and improve how finance data is used across the business. It will suit someone who enjoys problem solving, systems thinking and making processes work better.
Right to work in the UK
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. We welcome applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the role and do not require sponsorship.
Benefits
As well as a competitive salary and flexible hybrid working, you’ll be joining the UK’s largest independent social research organisation. Benefits include:
- 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays), rising to 30 days after 3 years
- Flexible working
- Generous pension scheme
- Life insurance and health cash plan
- Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loan
- Career development and professional development support
About the National Centre for Social Research
At the National Centre for Social Research, we believe social research has the power to make life better. By understanding people’s lives and views in depth, we help ensure the public has a powerful voice in shaping services and policy. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, we focus on high-quality research that works for society.
Our Values & Behaviours
We Are Curious
- Uses data to improve field performance and delivery
- Explores new approaches to workforce management
We Move with Purpose
- Drives delivery against operational targets
- Aligns workforce planning to demand
We Act with Integrity
- Ensures fair and compliant field practices
- Maintains quality and ethical standards
We are proud to say we are a Disability Confident Committed Employer, so if you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process please make us aware and we will endeavour to support you to help you showcase your best self during our hiring process.
About
At The National Centre for Social Research we believe that social research has the power to make life better. By really understanding the complexity of people’s lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful and influential role in shaping services that can make a difference to everyone. And as an independent, not-for-profit organisation we’re able to focus our time and energy on meeting our clients’ needs and delivering social research that works for society.
Skills Required
- Strong MS SQL experience including stored procedures, query optimisation and data transformation.
- Good understanding of accounting principles, financial processes, controls and reporting requirements (general ledger, purchase orders, month-end).
- Experience supporting, maintaining, implementing or upgrading finance or ERP systems.
- Ownership and management of purchase order systems, workflows, approval hierarchies and controls.
- Ability to design, develop and maintain SQL scripts, views and stored procedures to automate financial processes.
- Strong systems mindset with attention to detail, problem-solving and ability to work with backend data and workflows.
- Ability to investigate issues, improve processes and deliver practical automation to reduce manual effort.
- Comfort working across Finance, IT and wider stakeholders with clear communication and service-oriented approach.
- Right to work in the UK (employer does not offer visa sponsorship).
- Exposure to project-based or commercial environments (helpful).
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The Company
What We Do
The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the UK's largest independent social research organisation. It aims to improve society by conducting rigorous research and ensuring public voices shape decisions and services.
