Accounting Manager in Harlow

The Accounting Manager plays a key role within the Central Finance function, overseeing the month end close process and ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting. This role is responsible for managing core financial controls, leading the preparation and submission of monthly results, and providing guidance to ensure compliance with accounting standards and internal governance frameworks.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience managing a month‑end close process within a central or corporate finance environment ideally within a US group.
• Strong accounting knowledge and understanding of financial controls.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Experience of working within an SAP environment.
• This role requires SC clearance and therefore the successful applicant must be eligible to receive SC clearance.

Desirable

• Experience working in a large, multi‑entity or multi‑currency organisation.
• Exposure to audit processes or an internal control framework i.e. Internal and External audit.
• Previous involvement in an ERP transformation project including supporting with process mapping, system design, and post‑go‑live support.

Responsibilities

• Month-End Close & Reporting
  • Lead and coordinate the end‑to‑end month‑end close process across the business.
  • Preparation and review of monthly journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations.
  • Ensure the completeness, accuracy, and consistency of financial submissions into group reporting systems.
  • Analyse monthly performance results, identifying variances, trends, and potential risks or opportunities and utilise this to produce monthly management accounts and supporting schedules for senior leadership reviews.
• Financial Controls & Compliance
  • Maintain a strong financial control environment, ensuring adherence to internal control frameworks (e.g., SOX and audit requirements) and provide support for any Internal audits.
  • Oversee and improve reconciliation processes, ensuring timely resolution of reconciling items.
  • Design, implement, and monitor financial month‑end submissions and reporting cycles, whilst looking for ways to improve the processes across the team.
  • Take the Lead on external audits, providing required documentation and explanations to the auditors.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant company policies and accounting standards (e.g. US GAAP and UK GAAP).
• Team Leadership & Collaboration
  • Supervise and mentor accounting staff, providing coaching, feedback, and development opportunities.
  • Work collaboratively across Finance teams to ensure accurate data submission and alignment with central finance expectations.
  • Partner with FP&A, Treasury, Tax, and other functions to ensure consistent reporting and strong communication flow.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Evaluate current close and control processes, identifying opportunities to improve speed, accuracy, and control quality whilst maintaining a strong control environment.
  • Lead or support finance transformation initiatives, such as automation, standardisation, and system enhancements and provide support with enhancements and implementations of the ERP system.
  • Develop best practices and standard operating procedures for month‑end and control activities.