Strategic Cost Accountant

At Rathbones, we help people invest their money well, so they can live well. That means more than financial returns – it’s about helping people feel confident in their decisions and supported in their future. We don’t just manage money, we guide people through life’s big moments, helping them stay on track and focus on what matters most.

We’re proud to be one of the UK’s leading wealth managers, with over £109bn* in assets under management and 20+ offices across the UK and Channel Islands. We’re a FTSE 250 company with national reach and a local feel – and we’re growing.
*As of June 2025

Role Title: Strategic Cost Accountant

Division: Finance

Location: Glasgow, Liverpool, London

Contract: Fixed Term

Working pattern: Hybrid

About the Role

Support the Head of Strategic Costs Insight (and wider Strategic Finance team) across a range of projects and regular reporting.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Support the provision of high‑quality, insight‑led reporting on cost performance, efficiency opportunities, and cost impact of strategic projects
• Cost‑savings target delivery tracked against business cases/plans, with risks and variances flagged
• Identification, quantification, and communication of cost‑optimisation opportunities to decision‑makers
• Opportunities to gain direct exposure to Executive members through ongoing work
• Ability to challenge cost owners on costs incurred and delivery of savings
• Long‑term potential for more autonomous work and development of skillset and profile within the organisation
• Timely delivery of high‑quality Executive‑level cost reporting with positive stakeholder feedback
• Delivery of agreed cost‑savings targets or timely reporting on savings shortfalls
• Clear tracking and explanation of synergy realisation, including early identification and escalation of delivery risks or shortfalls

About you

• Challenging the business on optimisation of the cost base to support strategic decision‑making — ongoing and via special projects

• Strong communication skills with the ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
• Ability to work collaboratively across the Finance team and wider business
• Driving continuous cost improvement aligned to corporate strategy
• Experience of synergy tracking and modelling
• Assisting with preparation of Executive‑level reporting on cost base and opportunities
• High level of attention to detail, with strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Ensuring cost performance, efficiency opportunities, and financial impacts of strategic initiatives are clearly understood by senior leadership
• Strong presentation and report‑writing skills
• Ability to adjust quickly to shifting priorities and organisational change
• Working with the core Accounting team to provide Finance Business Partnering services to the business as required
• Strong financial analysis experience, ideally within FP&A, commercial finance, cost management, or strategic finance
• Ability to interpret complex financial data and turn it into clear, actionable insight
• Involvement in synergy/CTA business cases
• Ability to work on confidential cost‑optimisation projects as required
  
  

Professional Experience and Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Our offer to you

We want everyone at Rathbones to fulfil their potential, in an environment where you are proud to work and feel like you belong.

We offer a comprehensive remuneration package, which we review regularly, and benefits include:

• A company pension - 9% non-contributory or 10% if you contribute 5%
• Private medical insurance – Individual on joining, family after 1 year’s service
• Life assurance  - 8 x salary
• Income protection – 75 % salary
• Company share scheme
• Discretionary bonus
• Flexible holidays – purchase up to 5 additional days
• Green Car Scheme
• Family friendly policies – enhanced family leave for parents & carers
• Study support – study days and funding for courses and qualifications
• Season travel ticket loans
• Volunteering days
• Gym discounts
• Other voluntary benefits you can choose to suit you 

Our employees can choose to take part in various social groups and communities to support their wellbeing, growth, development and sense of community. These include:

• Sports & Social Committees, such as cricket, football, netball, running, yoga, quiz nights, charity bake sales and much more.
• Inclusion Networks that help us drive change within the organisation such as Gender Balance, Multicultural, Abilities Count, Pride, Social Mobility, Generations, Menopause Matters@Rathbones’ and Armed Forces. 
• The NextGen IM Network, which brings together a community of trainees from across the UK, who are all at the early stages of their careers and offers development opportunities, exposure across the business as well as peer support and connection.

Life at Rathbones

We aim to become an employer of choice for the wealth management sector, to achieve this we are working hard to build a diverse, equal, and inclusive workplace that motivates, develops and embraces the strengths of all our colleagues. Being part of Rathbones means you will join a team of passionate professionals in a successful culture that cares for its people. At Rathbones, we provide meaningful work, opportunities, and a voice to all.

We are committed to building a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities and encourage applications from all backgrounds. We welcome individuals who share our values.

We’re a Disability Confident Employer (level 2) under the UK Government scheme. This means we’ve signed up to a set of commitments around how we recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities. Find out more about the Government Scheme online, click here. If you require adjustments to apply for a role at Rathbones, please contact us via recruit@rathbones.com to let us know what adjustments you may need.

Mission

We believe in playing the long game. That means building consistent results, earning trust and doing the right thing — for our clients, our colleagues and the communities we’re part of.

Our values shape how we work:
- We aim high
- We get it done
- We show we care
- We do the right thing

These aren’t just words on a wall. They guide how we treat each other, how we make decisions and how we build relationships that last.

We will close this advert once we have received enough applications for the next stage. Please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out.