At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our finance team to provide insightful financial analysis and support decision-making.
- Company: Dynamic company in South Shields with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus scheme, staff discounts, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Great career development opportunities and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by translating financial data into actionable insights for the business.
- Qualifications: Must be a fully qualified accountant with strong management accounting experience.
We are seeking an accomplished, commercially astute and professionally qualified Management Accountant to join the Barbour Finance team here at our Head Office in South Shields. This is a high-profile role for a strong accountant who can combine technical financial rigour with confident stakeholder partnership, providing timely, accurate and actionable insight to support decision-making, improve performance and strengthen financial control across the organisation.
The Management Accountant will act as the finance lead for designated business areas, building a deep understanding of operational drivers, commercial priorities, risk and opportunities. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will translate financial performance into clear commercial insight, challenge assumptions constructively and support the delivery of strategic and operational objectives.
The successful candidate will take ownership of financial performance reporting, budgeting, forecasting and decision support for their business areas. You will be expected to bring strong management accounting expertise, robust analytical capability, excellent stakeholder management skills and a continuous improvement mindset.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Management Accounting & Performance Reporting: Prepare, review and present high-quality monthly management information for designated business areas, ensuring reporting is accurate, complete, timely and clearly aligned to commercial performance drivers. Deliver insightful variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior-year performance, clearly explaining the operational and commercial factors behind results and highlighting key risks, opportunities and actions.
- Financial Insight & Stakeholder Support: Act as a trusted finance contact for designated channels and senior operational stakeholders, providing clear financial insight, constructive challenge and value-adding commercial support. Partner with cost centre owners and channel leaders to improve understanding of revenue, margin, cost and profitability drivers, supporting better decision-making and stronger financial accountability.
- Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning: Own the budgeting and forecasting processes for designated business areas, coordinating inputs, challenging assumptions and ensuring financial plans are robust, evidence-based and commercially realistic. Monitor performance against targets, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and provide recommendations to support corrective action and performance improvement.
- Process Improvement, Controls & Wider Finance Support: Drive continuous improvement, simplification and automation within finance processes, reporting and analysis. Support statutory audit requirements, external reporting and wider Finance team priorities as required. Undertake ad hoc commercial analysis and project work to support business priorities.
Skills and Experience:
- Fully qualified accountant: CIMA, ACCA or ACA.
- Strong post-qualification experience in management accounting, financial planning, commercial finance or stakeholder-facing finance roles.
- Proven experience producing high-quality management information, forecasts, budgets and commercially focused analysis.
- Strong numerical, analytical and commercial interpretation skills with the ability to convert data into meaningful insight.
- Experience in a retail, consumer goods, apparel or multi-channel commercial environment desirable.
- Experience using ERP, BI and reporting tools to improve insight, control and efficiency desirable.
- Advanced technical accounting knowledge and strong financial control discipline.
- Excellent analytical capability, with confidence manipulating large data sets and drawing out clear commercial insight.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the credibility to influence and constructively challenge senior non-finance stakeholders.
- Strong commercial curiosity and the ability to understand operational processes, business drivers and the causes of financial performance.
- Advanced Excel skills, including modelling, data manipulation and presentation of financial information.
- Strong Power BI or business intelligence capability, with the ability to enhance reporting and self-serve insight.
- Confident cross-functional collaborator with the ability to build trusted stakeholder relationships.
- High standards of accuracy, ownership, pace and professional judgement.
- Proactive, self-motivated and able to operate with appropriate autonomy.
- Strong integrity, accountability and operational discipline.
- Able to balance attention to detail with a pragmatic, business-focused approach.
Benefits:
- Discretionary Company bonus scheme
- Staff discount
- Staff shop
- Healthcare cash plan
- 25 days holiday as standard increasing with length of service plus bank holidays
- Access to training and development activities to support your career development
- Free onsite parking
- Subsidised canteen
- Operate hybrid & flexible working
- 4pm finish on a Friday
- Wellbeing support
- Refer a friend bonus scheme
- Reward & Recognition program
- Length of Service rewards
Note: In the event that a sufficient volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.
Management Accountant in South Shields employer: All The Top Bananas
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Management Accountant in South Shields
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like All The Top Bananas. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Management Accountant in South Shields
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to All The Top Bananas.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on All The Top Bananas's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with All The Top Bananas.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at All The Top Bananas will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former All The Top Bananas employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.