Accountant

About Helsing

Helsing is a defence AI company dedicated to safeguarding our democracies. We strive to maintain technological leadership enabling open societies to preserve sovereign decisions and uphold ethical standards. Our team comprises committed engineers, AI specialists, and programme managers focused on addressing complex, impactful problems while maintaining transparency and ethical responsibility in defence technology.

Role Overview

The Senior Accountant will play a crucial role in managing financial reporting, overseeing the trial balance, conducting detailed reconciliations, and managing the month-end close process. This position demands technical expertise, strong ownership, and adherence to accounting standards, ensuring accurate, compliant, and optimized financial processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes ensuring deadlines and accuracy.
• Prepare and record intricate general ledger entries such as accruals, deferred revenue, prepayments, and intercompany transactions.
• Conduct and review key balance sheet reconciliations, investigating and resolving any inconsistencies independently.
• Handle intercompany accounting aspects including transfer pricing, loan agreements, and dealings with multiple currencies.
• Support the creation of consolidated statutory financial statements and local regulatory filings in line with GAAP and IFRS standards.
• Coordinate the annual external audit, preparing necessary documentation and addressing complex audit inquiries.
• Evaluate and improve general ledger processes, chart of accounts, and financial systems to enhance efficiency and automate tasks.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, SOX requirements, and financial policies organizational-wide.

Candidate Profile

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, or equivalent) with 5–7+ years of post-qualification experience in complex, multi-entity general ledger environments.
• Highly organised and capable of independently managing the entire financial close process with minimal supervision.
• Comprehensive knowledge of accounting principles including local GAAP and IFRS and statutory reporting obligations.
• Proficient in enterprise-level ERP systems such as SAP, NetSuite, or Workday, and advanced Excel financial modelling skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail ensuring reconciliation and accuracy of the balance sheet at all times.
• Strong time management skills with ability to prioritise and deliver under pressure during tight closing cycles.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in ERP system migrations, upgrades, or implementation of specialized modules (e.g., fixed assets, inventory tracking, automated reconciliations).
• Familiarity with Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools or scripting languages such as VBA or Python for automating recurring tasks.
• Experience in multi-entity and multi-currency accounting with exposure to foreign exchange and intercompany transactions.
• Proven ability to identify inefficiencies in financial processes and successfully lead improvements to shorten close cycles.

Why Work at Helsing?

• Contribute to the protection of democratic countries, balancing ethical and geopolitical considerations.
• Engage in unique work challenges involving advanced technical demands in AI and defence sectors.
• Opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation including reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, and infrastructure deployment.
• Work in a fast-growing company involved in significant government contracts aiming for transformational technological breakthroughs.
• A culture encouraging critical thinking, autonomy, diversity of opinions, and individual ownership of work and cultural impact.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with stock option opportunities (VSOP).
• Relocation assistance up to €2,500 and temporary accommodation for four weeks.
• Annual learning allowance equivalent to €500/£450.
• Health and wellness benefits including gym membership and mental health support services.
• Regular social events and monthly social allowances.
• Generous parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for secondary caregivers.
• Family support benefits include 5 days paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy, and phased return to work.

Equal Opportunity and Privacy

Helsing values diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or marital status. Personal sensitive data related to race, politics, religion, health, or sexual orientation should not be submitted. Candidate confidentiality and privacy are maintained throughout the recruitment process.