Principal Accountant

HAVE YOU GOT SPIRIT?
 
Succeeding in today’s energy landscape requires collaboration, agility and the courage to challenge established ways of working. At Spirit Energy, we are redefining what good looks like in mature basin operations — focusing on safe, responsible asset stewardship, value maximisation and the delivery of an orderly energy transition.
 
Achieving this requires a broad mix of skills, experience and perspectives. Our people are central to how we operate — bringing curiosity, accountability and pragmatism to complex technical and commercial challenges. If you are ready to take the next step in your career with a forward‑thinking team committed to doing things better and differently, we would like to hear from you.
 
THE OPPORTUNITY – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT
 
Responsible for the successful delivery of all month-end, interim, and year-end financial close processes including impairment and decommissioning; support Corporate Accounting processes in the preparation and delivery of statutory accounts, ensuring compliance with relevant standards (e.g., IFRS, GAAP) and oversee and maintain controlled SAP master data changes and enhancements (e.g., WBS structures, hierarchies, profit and cost centres)
 
Location: Aberdeen
Duration: 2-year contract
Contract Type: PAYE
Day Rate: TBC - For your application to be progressed, please ensure you provide a PAYE day rate banding expectation. 
 

• Please only apply if you have existing right-to-work in the UK.
• Please outline notice period/availability to start.

 
Closing Date for Applications: 16th July 2026
 
Spirit Energy currently have a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement for all office-based workers. 4 days must be worked in the office with compulsory days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The fourth day worked in-office (either Monday or Friday) is of the worker’s choosing but should be in keeping with what is most efficient and effective for their team. The office is open 5 days a week for full time, in-office working if this is the contractor’s preference.  
 
 
AND NOW FOR THE TECHNICAL BIT…
In role, you will be required to:
 
Financial Close & Reporting Accountability
Lead and deliver the successful completion of all month-end, interim, and year-end deliverables.
 
Audit Delivery & External Relationships

• Deliver clear and efficient year-end and interim audits.
• Support Corporate Accounting in preparing the statutory accounts in line with relevant requirements (IFRS and GAAP).
• Build and manage relationships with external auditors.

 
SAP Master Data Oversight
Oversee relevant and controlled SAP master data changes (e.g., WBS, hierarchies, profit/cost centres) to support business operations.
 
Accounting Process Improvement

• Lead continual improvements in key accounting processes, including Impairment, Annual Decommissioning Reviews, and Revenue Accounting.
• Work with the Controls function to implement findings from internal and external audits.

 
Advisory on Significant Accounting Matters
Act as an advisor on significant or one-off accounting and reporting matters (e.g., acquisitions, disposals, legal entity changes), ensuring they are reflected correctly in systems and processes are completed to conclusion.
 
Financial Systems & Data Management
Participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for system changes
 
Specialized Financial Processes

• Lead the impairment assessment process (half-year and year-end), including:
  • Provide economic assumptions and data inputs
  • Build and run valuation models (asset values and goodwill)
  • Collaborate with Tax to ensure accurate portfolio tax modelling
  • Review and challenge key assumptions and inputs
  • Prepare analysis and supporting audit requirements
• Support the annual Decommissioning Review process

 
Any other associated duties as reasonably required
 
 
ABOUT YOU
To be successful in this role, we are looking for:
 

• Strong all-round financial and technical accounting skills & knowledge.
• Strong Excel capability – experience of building/improving models.
• Strong SAP ERP, BW & BPC knowledge.
• Critical thinking and analytical skills to provide check and challenge to the business in their decision making in an effective and constructive manner.
• Excellent coaching and knowledge transfer skills – can deliver through others
• Qualified accountant (ACA, CA, ACCA, CIMA);
• Relevant University degree

 
 
In addition to technical knowledge and credibility, we are looking for someone who lives our values - Agility, Collaboration, Courage, Care, and Delivery. A person who embraces and supports change, while ensuring the safe and efficient operation of a mature asset
 


People are our business worldwide
 
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.