JV Accountant – Maternity Cover (16-Month FTC) job at Bristol Full Time

The Role

Our fantastic Finance team are looking for a talented and commercially minded accountant to join our Joint Venture (JV) team within Group Reporting on a 16 month fixed-term contract. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering accurate and insightful financial reporting across a diverse property portfolio and complex group structure.

In this role, you`ll work closely with stakeholders across the business, taking ownership of key reporting processes while supporting high-profile transactions and strategic initiatives. You`ll be part of a collaborative, fast-paced environment where your technical expertise, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills will make a real impact.

From month-end reporting and financial statement preparation to supporting acquisitions, disposals, and refinancing activity, this role offers excellent exposure and variety. If you enjoy improving processes, partnering with the business, and delivering high-quality financial insight, we`d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the accounting and reporting for the London Student Accommodation Vehicle (LSAV) JV, including quarterly reporting, management accounts, journals, balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, and statutory financial statements
• Manage group recharges for LSAV, including invoicing and cost settlements
• Partner with Fund and Investment Finance teams to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• Support a range of technical accounting projects, including acquisitions, disposals, refinancing, and equity transactions
• Produce ad-hoc financial analysis and reports for key stakeholders and budget holders
• Ensure month-end activities are completed accurately and on time, maintaining strong financial controls throughout

What We`re Looking For

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with at least 2 years` post-qualified experience
• Strong financial reporting experience within a fast-paced corporate environment
• Good understanding of joint ventures and complex group structures
• Advanced Excel and strong systems skills, including PivotTables and Lookups
• A proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and process efficiency
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• Confident communicator who can build strong working relationships across the business
• High attention to detail and a commitment to delivering accurate, high-quality work

What You`ll Get in Return

• A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
• 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
• A generous pension scheme – employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
• Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
• Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
• Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!

About Unite Students

Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.

Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.

People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.

Room for Everyone

We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.

We are US.