Financial Accountant - Sainsbury's Costs
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Finance & Business Development
Closing date: 23 April 2026
Requisition ID: 400057446
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. For a FTSE business, we move incredibly fast. When we’re not handling projects, we’re helping all corners of the wider group with what they’re trying to achieve. And around here, you can see the results of your work as soon as you walk into a store, which gives you a real sense of purpose and responsibility. Better still, the team around you will listen to your ideas and opinions, and you’ll have every chance to try something new. The sheer scale and complexity of our set-up means there’s always something else around the corner, and we’ll help and support you every step of the way. We’re trusted to get on with it. So get ready to make things happen here.
Location: London, Coventry or Manchester Store Support Centre & Home. Colleagues go into the office 1-2 days per week on average.
Why join us
Joining Sainsbury's as a Financial Accountant in the Corporate Finance division offers the opportunity to play a crucial role in ensuring the accurate financial close for various cost lines within the organisation. As a key member of the team, you will work collaboratively with offshore accounting teams, Finance Business Partners, and other stakeholders to maintain strong financial controls, apply correct accounting treatments, and support business projects. With the support of experienced professionals and access to technical guidance, you will have the chance to further develop your skills, contribute to the compliance with accounting standards, and make a meaningful impact within a dynamic and evolving environment.
What you'll do
As the Financial Accountant – Sainsbury’s Costs, you will play a crucial role in overseeing the accounting activities related to Sainsbury's cost lines, including retail, central, marketing, logistics, property, and other areas. Your responsibilities will include supporting the accounting close process for functional areas, ensuring compliance with financial controls and accounting standards, working closely with offshore accounting teams and finance business partners, and providing accounting support for business projects. You will be responsible for maintaining accurate accounting records, implementing financial control procedures, and ensuring compliance with intercompany processes. Additionally, you will collaborate with various business functions and areas as needed, apply correct accounting treatment for entities, exercise judgement in complex situations, and deliver audit requirements and internal reporting to support external announcements during interim and year-end cycles.
Who you are
You are a part or fully qualified accounting professional with a strong foundation in financial controls and compliance. Your analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively with stakeholders enable you to ensure the timely and accurate financial close for cost lines within the organisation. With a proactive approach, high energy, and the capacity to make sound decisions in complex situations, you play a key role in maintaining financial integrity and supporting business projects through your expertise in accounting principles and policy adherence.
Essential Criteria
- Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA), or actively studying towards a recognised professional accounting qualification
- Demonstrable experience of maintaining and operating effective financial controls
- Proven ability to analyse financial information and translate data into accurate, well‑reasoned outputs to support decision‑making
- Evidence of clear, professional written and verbal communication with a range of stakeholders
- Demonstrated capability to plan, prioritise and deliver work to deadlines in a changing or fast‑paced environment, both independently and collaboratively
#LI-CE1
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:
Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform.
Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
