Systems Accountant

Founded in 2004, Rapha exists to inspire the world to live life by bike. We believe that cycling has the power to improve people’s lives but as well as enjoying it for what it is today, we are determined to change cycling and open it up to more people so that they too can discover the joys of riding a bike. 

The Systems Accountant combines a data driven, analytical approach with an in-depth knowledge of Microsoft ERP solutions (Microsoft Navision, upgrading to Business Central during 2023-24) and other functional systems, to maintain the completeness and accuracy of data and solutions used across Finance. The Systems Accountant is the technology champion of Finance, responsible for the integrity of systems and reporting as well as playing a key role in delivering wider business technology projects.

The Finance function operates at the heart of Rapha as a multi-functional, business facing department. Rapha is dynamic and we are looking for an individual who is happy to get into the detail to support the business and continue our growth as a world class omni-channel Retailer.

Key Business Partners: Financial Accountant, Logistics Manager, Technology Product Owners, Technology Analysts, Nav/ BC Developers, Head of Data and BI

The Role:

• Data Integrity and Integrations
  • Maintain the accuracy and integrity of the finance ledgers, with a particular focus on all automated integrations and calculations with regard to sales, stock and margin accounts
  • Develop, execute and maintain efficient reconciliation processes between finance and source systems at appropriate cadence
  • Work proactively with technology and functional product owners to identity and rectify issues that occur with data integrations
  • Act as first sign off for all back posting/ corrections to ledgers proposed by technology team, escalating as appropriate
  • Perform routine testing of inbound integrations, data integrity and automated processes

• Platform Development and Projects
  • Proactively suggest and implement automations and improvements to finance processes to save time and improve accuracy of outcomes
  • Maintain a finance improvement backlog and work with finance leadership to prioritise and deliver finance owned projects
  • Project manage finance owned developments including planning, delivery and testing
  • Play a key role in wider business technology projects (PLM, Merch Planning, Web Replatforming), ensuring finance requirements are captured and delivered

• ERP and Other Tools
  • Act as the product owner for all finance functionality within the ERP system, ensuring optimum configuration and operation.
  • Develop a good working understanding of any custom code that impacts finance and use this to troubleshoot when problems arise
  • Liaise with developers to implement fixes, corrections and improvements in a way that is fit for finance reporting
  • Act as product owner for any other functional finance systems, tools and semi Automations.

• Reporting
  • Develop a good understanding of internal and external finance reportingrequirements and support the finance leadership team in delivering continuous improvement in accuracy and timeliness
  • Support the finance team in the development of ad hoc reporting to help answer business questions
  • Work closely with the Business Intelligence team

• Upskill Finance Team
  • Provide technical insight, coaching and mentoring to finance team members on core finance systems
  • Promote a data driven and systematic approach to maintaining understanding and maintaining finance systems: give the team the confidence to understand and help manage their own systems
  • Ensure a detailed set of technical and process documentation is kept and maintained, including overseeing regular review and updating

Required Candidate Qualities:

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualification: part or fully qualified
• At least 3 years’ experience in a systems focused role, the majority to be working on the Microsoft stack (Navision, D365, Business Central, Power BI etc)
• Experience of delivering finance systems projects - ideally an ERP implementation
• In depth knowledge of sales and stock accounting and commercial understanding of margin drivers in a global multi-channel retailer
• Exceptional analytical skills, very comfortable interrogating large data sets
• Experienced documenting processes for end users (notes) and developers (flows eg Visio)
• Passionate about driving continuous improvement in the back office tech stack
• Very numerate, able to understand and prioritise business requirements and requests
• Strong understanding of financial control frameworks and processes
• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to work under pressure and take on constructive criticism

Advantageous Candidate Qualities:

• Working knowledge of customs regimes in the UK, US and EU
• Experience in ecommerce, retail AND/OR payments
• Experience working closely with logistics teams in a global environment

Working at Rapha

We are continuously looking into ways to invest in our employees and build a better working culture and environment. Here are just some of the internal benefits we offer. 

• Flexible working hours 
• Support ad-hoc remote working during the week - Minimum 3 days in office
• Free barista coffee and social drinks in the office
• Monthly department social events and quarterly office social away days
• We offer a flexible riding benefit to allow you to go out riding on a Wednesday morning with colleagues or learn to cycle to cycling through our Getting Started Scheme. 
• We offer all our employees a 50% apparel discount and a discount for family and friends 
• An annual clothing allowance 
• Free membership to the Rapha Cycling Club 
• Company Pension Scheme