Financial Accountant - Events, Leisure, Property, Agriculture in Elstree

Own the Numbers. Strengthen the Controls. Help Build a Better Finance Function. Are you a technically strong Financial Accountant who enjoys being close to the detail, taking ownership of the accounting cycle and making sure the numbers genuinely stand up? Do you thrive in a hands-on environment where accurate month-end reporting, robust reconciliations and strong financial controls really matter? Join Aldenham Estate at an exciting point in the development of its finance function, with the opportunity to take ownership of core accounting while supporting improvements to systems, processes and reporting.

If you’re a technically confident Financial Accountant who wants to take ownership, strengthen controls and help shape a better finance function, we’d love to hear from you. Experience within property, estates, rural businesses or another family-owned organisation would be advantageous but isn't essential.

The Role at a Glance

• Financial Accountant (Qualified)
• Predominantly working onsite with flex
• Full Time | Permanent
• Reporting to: Head of Finance
• Direct Reports: Bookkeeper / Finance Administration Support as appropriate
• Business: Diversified Family-Owned Estate | Property | Aerodrome | Glamping | Farming | Sustainable Land Management

Your Background / Skills:

• Financial Accounting
• Month-End
• Management Accounts
• Balance Sheet Reconciliations
• VAT
• Payroll
• Cash Flow
• Financial Controls
• Multi-Entity Accounting
• Finance Systems
• Excel
• ACA, ACCA or CIMA.

Culture:

The culture is informal, flexible and family-friendly, with an emphasis on outcomes, collaboration and connection to the wider estate. Aldenham Estate is a diversified family-owned estate based in Elstree, Hertfordshire, with activities spanning residential and commercial property, London Elstree Aerodrome, Home Farm Glamping, farming and environmental land management. Operating through a number of companies, partnerships and trusts, the Estate is investing in improved financial systems, reporting and controls as it strengthens its finance function for the future.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a technically strong, hands-on Financial Accountant to become the operational accounting backbone of the finance team. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you’ll take ownership of the accuracy and integrity of the Estate’s underlying financial records, including the monthly close, reconciliations, VAT, payroll administration, banking controls, cash-flow preparation and day-to-day finance systems administration. Sitting between the internal bookkeeping function and external accountants, you’ll ensure financial information across the Estate’s multiple entities is accurate, complete and presented in the right format.

Your immediate priority will be maintaining operational continuity and robust financial control, while supporting the Head of Finance with the replacement of Sage 50, integration with Re-Leased and documentation of clear, consistent finance procedures - bringing greater control, clarity and confidence to the numbers. You’ll own the technical accounting, controls and operational finance processes that ensure the underlying numbers are accurate, reliable and audit-ready.

Where You'll Add Value

• Lead the monthly close across all entities - from journals, accruals and reconciliations to fixed assets and reporting support, ensuring the underlying records are accurate, consistent and audit-ready.
• Prepare VAT returns, year-end schedules and audit files, maintain the finance compliance calendar and act as a dependable point of contact for external accountants, auditors and advisers.
• Prepare short-term cash-flow forecasts, monitor working capital and credit control, and maintain robust banking, payment and access controls with clear approval responsibilities.
• Work with the outsourced payroll provider and Bookkeeper to ensure payroll, pensions, invoicing, payments, reconciliations and transaction processing run accurately and on time.
• Support the replacement of the finance system and its integration with Re-Leased, including migration, testing and reconciliation. Document key procedures and introduce practical improvements that increase efficiency, control and operational resilience.

About You

You’re a technically strong, hands-on accountant who enjoys doing, not simply reviewing. You like getting beneath the numbers—making sure balance sheets reconcile, controls work and financial information can be trusted. Curious and pragmatic, you’re comfortable navigating multi-entity complexity, investigating issues and finding workable solutions when everything doesn’t fit neatly into a standard box. You’ll be confident taking ownership within a small finance team, balancing competing deadlines and working independently while building strong relationships with finance colleagues, operational teams and external advisers.

You'll likely bring ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification with strong technical accounting capability. Strong financial accounting, month-end and balance sheet reconciliation experience. Experience preparing management accounts and supporting year-end statutory accounts. Strong understanding of financial controls, banking processes, VAT and payroll administration. Excellent Excel skills and confidence working with accounting systems. High attention to detail with a genuine commitment to accuracy and control. The ability to independently manage priorities and deadlines within a hands-on finance environment. Clear communication skills and confidence working with finance and non-finance stakeholders. Experience within a multi-entity accounting environment would be particularly valuable. Knowledge of Sage 50, Re-Leased, partial exemption VAT or finance systems implementation/integration would also be beneficial.

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate and timely monthly close across all entities.
• Fully reconciled balance sheets supported by appropriate schedules every month.
• Clean, well-prepared year-end and audit files.
• Accurate and timely VAT returns.
• Reliable short-term cash flow visibility for the Head of Finance and Directors.
• Effective banking, payment and access controls.
• Accurate monthly payroll administration and reconciliation.
• Successful support for finance system replacement and Re-Leased integration.
• Reduced key-person dependency across critical finance processes.

This is an opportunity to take real ownership within a varied and unusual business environment. Rather than accounting for one straightforward trading business, you'll gain exposure across property, aviation, hospitality, farming and sustainable land management, all within the wider Aldenham Estate. You'll have £55,000 - £60,000 salary depending on experience. Genuine ownership of the accounting cycle. Exposure to a varied, multi-entity family-owned organisation. Close working relationship with the Head of Finance, Directors and operational teams. Opportunity to strengthen financial controls and reporting. Hands-on involvement in finance system replacement and process improvement. Scope to make practical improvements to how the finance function operates.