Role Overview

The Head of Accounting will lead the firm’s technical accounting and policy function, ensuring high-quality financial reporting under US GAAP and IFRS and strong US regulatory accounting outcomes. This role partners closely with Finance leadership, Risk, Legal/Compliance, and the business to translate complex transactions into clear accounting conclusions, scalable policies, and audit-ready execution. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong judgment, speed, and the ability to lead through ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Accounting & Policy Leadership

• Own the firm’s technical accounting agenda, including research, interpretation, and application of US GAAP and IFRS to complex transactions and new products.
• Lead the development, maintenance, and governance of global accounting policies, memos, and position papers; ensure conclusions are well-supported and practical to operate.
• Advise on accounting impacts of business initiatives (new products, legal entity changes, intercompany arrangements), including P&L and balance sheet implications.

Financial Reporting & GAAP/IFRS Compliance

• Ensure the firm’s financial statements, disclosures, and management reporting are prepared in accordance with US GAAP and/or IFRS, with consistent application across entities and regions.
• Drive accounting judgments related to financial instruments, consolidation, revenue recognition, leases, share-based payments, and impairments (as applicable to the firm’s activity).
• Partner with external auditors on technical positions, emerging issues, and audit requests; manage discussions to timely resolution.

US Regulatory Accounting & Oversight

• Own accounting support for US regulatory reporting (e.g., broker-dealer and other regulated-entity reporting requirements), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Interpret and implement regulatory accounting guidance that affects statutory capital, net capital, and regulated entity financial statements (as applicable).
• Coordinate with Compliance and Legal on regulatory inquiries, examinations, and ongoing reporting obligations.

Controls, Governance & Process Excellence

• Establish and maintain a strong accounting control framework, including documentation, review standards, segregation of duties, and evidence retention.
• Drive continuous improvement of close and reporting processes, including automation and systems enhancements that improve accuracy and speed.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team; set clear expectations, develop talent, and create durable operating rhythms.

Stakeholder Management & Leadership

• Serve as the senior accounting advisor to Finance leadership and key stakeholders.
• Communicate complex accounting topics clearly to non-accountants and senior executives; drive decisions with a bias toward timely execution.
• Monitor and prepare for changes in accounting standards and regulatory guidance; lead implementation and change management.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years of progressive experience in technical accounting, financial reporting, accounting advisory, or controllership within financial services or other complex environments.
• Deep expertise in US GAAP; strong working knowledge of IFRS (or vice versa), with demonstrated ability to operate in multi-reporting frameworks.
• Experience with US regulatory accounting/reporting in a regulated environment (e.g., broker-dealer, bank, asset manager, fintech with regulatory reporting), including interaction with regulators or examinations.
• Proven track record leading technical accounting projects across multiple stakeholders and driving issues to resolution.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required; CPA strongly preferred (Master’s/MBA a plus).

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional technical depth with practical, business-oriented judgment.
• Strong leadership presence; able to influence across levels and functions.
• Execution-focused and decisive; comfortable operating in ambiguity and under tight deadlines.
• Clear communicator with strong writing skills (policy memos, position papers, audit-ready documentation).
• High ownership mindset with a strong control orientation and commitment to quality.

Who We Are

Optiver is a global market maker founded in Amsterdam, with offices in London, Chicago, Austin, New York, Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Mumbai. Established in 1986, today we are a leading liquidity provider, with close to 2,000 employees in offices around the world, united in our commitment to improve the market through competitive pricing, execution and risk management. By providing liquidity on multiple exchanges across the world in various financial instruments we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets. We provide liquidity to financial markets using our own capital, at our own risk, trading a wide range of products: listed derivatives, cash equities, ETFs, bonds and foreign currencies.

Optiver’s Sydney office is one of the primary players within Asian markets, trading a range of products. Established in 1996, we're an active participant on the Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan exchanges, and act as Optiver’s APAC head office. 

What You’ll Do

As Australia Finance Manager, you will partner with local, regional, and global stakeholders to deliver accurate and timely financial insights, strengthen the control environment, and support strategic decision-making across the business. You will lead a team of four and play a key role in driving financial excellence, continuous improvement, and finance transformation initiatives.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Delivering accurate and timely internal and external financial reporting for Optiver’s Australia and Technology legal entities, with clear business context
• Managing AASB / IFRS technical accounting matters, including share-based payments
• Overseeing regional variable compensation accounting
• Leading external and internal audits
• Partnering with the Tax team on tax accounting matters (transfer pricing, income tax, GST, FBT)
• Managing non-trading treasury activities including cash, capital, dividends, and FX
• Leading and developing a team of four, including performance, coaching, and development planning
• Supporting and driving finance transformation initiatives at a regional and global level
• Identifying and implementing process, control, and system improvements
• Strengthening the Finance control framework to ensure risks are identified and managed
• Supporting Group Finance on reporting, policies, and technical papers

Who You Are

You have a keen interest in financial markets and wish to broaden your experience in financial services. With 15+ years’ professional experience you will be able to provide clear examples of operating successfully in a fast-paced environment, managing successful teams, driving change programs, analysing financial information and providing management insights and solutions. You will be self-motivated and act with autonomy to adapt quickly and effectively manage competing priorities. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and approach tasks with a problem-solving and controls-based mindset, with a constant focus on continuous improvement.

Essential criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Commerce, or Business
• CA/CPA (or international equivalent)
• 15+ years’ experience in a financial control or equivalent role
• Experience in a markets business (Product Control experience preferred)
• Experience with accounting systems (NetSuite preferred)
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills

What You’ll Get

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle some of the most complex problems in the financial markets.

In return for your expertise, you will have access to a range of Optiver perks, including:

• A performance-based bonus structure unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams and offices into a global profit pool, fostering a truly collaborative environment. 
• The chance to work alongside diverse and intelligent peers in a rewarding environment
• Training, mentorship and personal development opportunities
• Gym membership plus weekly in-house chair massages
• Daily breakfast, lunch and an in-house barista
• Regular social events including a company trip every two years.
• Guided relocation, a competitive relocation package and visa sponsorship where necessary.

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process.

Questions? Get in touch with the recruitment team at careers@optiver.com.au

Optiver is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Accountant to join our growing Finance team in London. This role is well-suited to a qualified accountant with early post-qualification experience who is keen to deepen their technical accounting knowledge in a fast-paced, high-performance environment. The successful candidate will support core accounting and reporting processes while working closely with senior team members across the business.

What you'll do 

• Support the month-end and year-end close processes for multiple entities, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting
• Prepare and post journal entries for trading and servicing entities, including trading-related balances, intercompany transactions, accruals, prepayments, leases, and fixed assets
• Perform balance sheet substantiation and reconciliations, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of general ledger records
• Assist with the preparation of expense allocations, profit-sharing calculations, and transfer pricing calculations, including related journal entries
• Prepare statutory financial statements in compliance with IFRS
• Support year-end audit processes, liaising with external auditors and responding to audit queries in a timely manner
• Contribute to technical accounting research, accounting policy documentation, and the implementation of new accounting standards
• Liaise with Tax to support compliance with transfer pricing policies and other regulatory requirements
• Support cash and treasury activities, including bank reconciliations
• Own VAT accounting and VAT return preparation, ensuring accurate and timely indirect tax reporting and compliance
• Coordinate corporate tax compliance activities with external advisors and support employment tax reporting requirements in partnership with Payroll
• Assist with the documentation, implementation, testing, and ongoing monitoring of internal controls and financial governance processes
• Collaborate with Tax, Treasury, Middle Office, Risk, Procurement, and other stakeholders on business initiatives and finance-related projects
• Drive continuous improvement in data quality, process optimisation, automation, and the adoption of AI-enabled tools

Who you are

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA preferred)
• 1+ years of post-qualification experience in corporate accounting
• Highly motivated, detail-oriented, and able to handle multiple priorities in a complex finance environment
• Have a willingness to embrace new challenges and drive continuous improvement across finance processes as both Optiver and the role evolves, using AI and automation where appropriate
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Financial services experience is advantageous
• NetSuite experience is a plus

Who we are

At Optiver, our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilizing force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe.

What you'll get

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A performance-based bonus structure, enabling all of our employees to benefit from our global profit pool.
• 27 paid vacation days plus all UK public holidays.
• Daily breakfast and lunch, along with support on commuting expenses.
• Private medical insurance, pension scheme, and ClassPass fitness membership.
• Training and continuous learning opportunities, including access to conferences and tech events.
• International transfer opportunities for global career growth.

How to apply

Apply directly via the form below. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Recruitment team via our recruitment inquiry form.

Please note:

• We do not require any assistance from third-parties including agencies in the recruitment of this role
• We cannot accept applications via email

Diversity statement

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion.