Management Accountant

The Role Unveiled

The Management Accountant is responsible for preparing accurate and timely month-end reporting and clear financial commentary for review by the Finance Manager. The role owns key financial control and reporting activities, including balance sheet reconciliations, cost centre reporting and capital expenditure reporting, while partnering with stakeholders across the business to improve financial understanding and decision-making. The postholder will manage and develop the Assistant Accountant and will actively seek opportunities to improve, automate and enhance finance processes through data, technology and artificial intelligence.

Your Role in Action

Month-end reporting and analysis

• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts and supporting schedules for review by the Finance Manager.
• Produce clear, concise commentary that explains financial performance, material movements and key business drivers.
• Analyse actual results against budget, forecast and prior periods, investigating significant variances and presenting findings clearly.
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Support with the production of the VAT returns

Balance sheet control

• Own the monthly balance sheet reconciliation process and ensure reconciliations are completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Review supporting evidence, investigate reconciling items and drive timely resolution of aged or unusual balances.
• Identify financial control risks, recommend corrective action and escalate material matters to the Finance Manager.

Cost centre reporting and business partnering

• Own cost centre reporting and provide budget holders with accurate, relevant and accessible financial information.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders across the business and act as a trusted finance contact.
• Meet with budget holders to explain performance, understand underlying drivers and provide constructive financial challenge.
• Support budgeting and forecasting by gathering assumptions, testing inputs and identifying risks and opportunities.

Capital expenditure reporting

• Own capital expenditure reporting, including monitoring spend against approved budgets and project expectations.
• Ensure capital expenditure is classified, recorded and reported accurately, with appropriate supporting documentation.
• Provide clear analysis and commentary on capital investment, commitments and emerging variances.

Team management and development

• Manage the Assistant Accountant, setting clear priorities, objectives and standards.
• Review work completed by the Assistant Accountant and provide timely, constructive feedback.
• Allocate work effectively and maintain appropriate segregation between preparation, review and approval activities.

Data, process improvement and innovation

• Analyse large and complex datasets to identify trends, exceptions, risks and opportunities.
• Apply strong problem-solving skills to resolve accounting, reporting and data-quality issues.
• Identify and deliver opportunities to simplify, standardise and automate finance processes.
• Explore responsible and practical uses of AI to enhance reporting, analysis, controls and productivity within the finance function.
• Document improved processes and support the adoption of new tools and ways of working.

The Perfect Match

Your Skills & Talents

Essential

• Part-qualified or qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Demonstrable experience preparing monthly management accounts and financial commentary.
• Strong knowledge of balance sheet reconciliations, month-end controls and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience analysing large or complex datasets.
• Strong problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident communicator with the ability to build effective relationships with non-finance stakeholders.
• Ability to organise priorities, take ownership and deliver to recurring deadlines.

Desirable

• Previous experience managing, coaching or mentoring a junior team member.
• Experience of data analytics, visualisation or automation tools such as Power BI or Alteryx.
• Practical experience using AI or automation tools in a finance environment.
• Experience in a multi-entity or international organisation.

Additional

• Commercially curious and interested in understanding the story behind the numbers.
• Proactive, accountable and comfortable taking ownership.
• Collaborative and able to challenge constructively.
• Committed to high standards of accuracy and control.
• Motivated by continuous improvement, automation and innovation.
• Supportive people manager with a genuine interest in developing others.

Measures of success

• Month-end reporting and commentary are accurate, insightful and delivered to timetable.
• Balance sheet reconciliations are complete, well supported and promptly cleared.
• Budget holders receive useful reporting and view Finance as a constructive business partner.
• Capital expenditure is accurately controlled, monitored and reported.
• The Assistant Accountant develops capability and takes increasing ownership.
• Measurable improvements are delivered through standardisation, automation, data and AI.