Job Description

You will be responsible for leading the budget and forecasting processes, oversee month end accounting and the preparation of the management accounts, and to produce analysis and reports to enable the Directors to make informed decisions about the Business. You will also be responsible for managing 2 direct reports. The ideal candidate will have experience working within a Creative business and someone who enjoys leading from the front. We are looking for a manager who offers great leadership, financial expertise and someone who is willing to delve into a new challenge and make their own mark!

This role is offering hybrid working with just 2-3 days in the office per week.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the annual budget and half yearly forecasting process
• Oversee the preparation of the monthly management accounts and quarterly management pack, ensuring a full understanding of the P&L and variances
• Manage two direct reports: a Management Accountant (qualified) and an Assistant Management Accountant
• Manage month-end accounting e.g. accruals, payroll, royalties, fixed assets, uploads of sales & stock movements
• Liaise with the overseas subsidiary accountants to ensure the receipt of accurate data, the reconciliation of intercompany accounts, and to understand performance drivers
• Support senior managers in reviewing departmental and contractual financial performance
• Produce title profitability reports and financial analysis to support the senior management team in decision making
• Manage the accounting for the Volume platform and other new initiatives
• Review the Balance Sheet reconciliations produced by their team
• Develop new reports & analysis to support changing business needs; continually improve working practices
• Input into the development of the company's IT systems to ensure they provide the data/granularity needed to enhance/streamline financial reporting & analysis
• Act as a payment authorizer
• Assist the Financial Controller with the year-end working papers, external audit and potentially statutory accounts preparation
• Manage the preparation & submission of Office for National Statistics returns
• Deputies for the Financial Controller
• Ad hoc requests and analysis from the Financial Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Business Directors

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Fully qualified with a few years post qualified experience
• A background in Publishing would be a bonus - a background in any Creative industry is great
• Timeliness and reliability/accuracy of the monthly management accounts & financial reporting
• Smooth, efficient running of the budget, forecasting and title profitability processes
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Happy to get stuck in
• Managerial experience would be a bonus as this role looks after 2 direct reports
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Excel including using vlookups, pivot tables etc.
• Strong attention to detail, including when dealing with large volumes of data
• Ability to quickly learn how the business works and then use that knowledge to sense-check numbers produced in the accounts