Management Accountant

Management Accountant

The Management Accountant is responsible for producing accurate, timely and insightful management information for assigned business units and entities. The role supports month-end close, balance sheet control, budgeting and forecasting, statutory and audit requirements, and business partnering with operational and senior management teams.

The postholder will help strengthen financial controls, improve reporting processes and provide clear analysis to support informed commercial and operational decision-making.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Prepare monthly management accounts for assigned entities and/or business units, including journals, accruals, prepayments and supporting schedules.
• Own and coordinate relevant month-end close activities to ensure reporting deadlines are met and results are complete, accurate and appropriately supported.
• Prepare, review and maintain balance sheet reconciliations, investigating reconciling items and ensuring timely resolution.
• Analyse revenue, cost of sales, overheads, gross margin and project-related performance, highlighting trends, risks and opportunities.
• Prepare variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior periods, with clear commentary for management review.
• Support budgeting and forecasting cycles by preparing schedules, reviewing assumptions and working with business stakeholders to understand expected performance.
• Maintain and reconcile intercompany transactions, including recharges, invoicing, eliminations support and resolution of intercompany differences.
• Support cashflow, working capital and debtor/creditor analysis by providing accurate finance data and commentary where required.
• Prepare and/or review VAT, tax, audit and statutory reporting schedules, working with external accountants and auditors as required.
• Support Group reporting requirements, consolidation inputs and wider finance queries with accurate analysis and audit-ready documentation.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, tax regulations, internal policies and delegated authorities relevant to the role.
• Identify and implement improvements to finance processes, controls, reconciliations and reporting templates.
• Provide financial guidance and support to operational teams, project teams and senior management, translating financial data into practical insight.
• Support, coach or review the work of junior finance team members where appropriate, promoting accuracy, consistency and good financial control.
• Liaise professionally with internal and external stakeholders, including auditors, banks, tax advisers, accountants and regulators as required.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications:

• Qualified, part-qualified or finalist accountant, or qualified by experience, with relevant management accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of month-end close, management reporting, balance sheet control and core accounting principles.
• Experience using finance/accounting systems is essential; experience in multi-entity or project-based environments is desirable.
• Good working knowledge of VAT, audit requirements and financial controls; wider tax or statutory reporting exposure is desirable.

Skills:

• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large datasets, reconciliations, lookups, pivot tables and reporting templates.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial results and explain key movements clearly.
• High attention to detail, accuracy and ownership of deliverables.
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines during month-end and reporting cycles.
• Clear communication and business partnering skills, with the confidence to engage with finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Sound judgement, problem-solving ability and a proactive approach to improving processes and controls.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a busy finance team.

Experience:

• Proven experience in a finance, accounting or management accounting role.
• Proven experience preparing or supporting monthly management accounts, journals, reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Experience supporting audits, tax/VAT returns, statutory reporting or external adviser queries is desirable.
• Experience in a multi-entity, multi-currency, international or project-led business environment is desirable.

Tagged as: Finance & Accounting