Operational Accounting Manager in Bedford

Location: Bedford / Hybrid

Reporting to: Financial Controller

Salary: From £51,000

Working pattern: Hybrid Hours: 37 hours per week

Help us do the right thing, the right way. At bpha, we're proud of the difference we make - and strong, well-run finances help make that possible. We're looking for an Operational Accounting Manager with strong technical accounting experience to lead our accounting team, keep things running smoothly, and help us continue to strengthen our financial control and reporting.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys getting into the detail, leading people, and working closely with others to make sure complex accounting areas are handled properly and confidently.

As our Operational Accounting Manager, you'll take responsibility for the day-to-day accounting across the organisation (excluding capital accounting). This includes technically complex areas such as subsidiary accounting, bond vehicles and joint ventures.

You'll work closely with the Financial Controller and colleagues across the business, making sure our accounting treatments are robust, our reporting is accurate, and our controls stand up to scrutiny. You'll also help shape how the accounting function continues to develop, always looking for better ways of working.

Your key responsibilities:

• Leading, supporting and developing the Accounting Team, with a strong focus on quality, control and technical accuracy
• Owning the month-end process and ensuring complex journals and reconciliations are completed accurately and on time
• Ensuring balance sheet reconciliations are robust, well-evidenced and reviewed
• Managing technically complex tax areas including Corporation Tax, VAT (partial exemption), CIS, SDLT and ATED
• Acting as a key technical point of contact for accounting and VAT queries
• Coordinating information for the annual external audit and responding confidently to technical queries
• Monitoring and strengthening financial controls and processes
• Identifying opportunities to improve accounting processes and efficiency
• Providing accurate financial information to support budgets and forecasts
• Supporting the Financial Controller with technical queries and ad-hoc projects

About you: You'll be comfortable working with technical accounting issues, enjoy taking ownership, and want to do things properly - not just quickly. You'll combine strong technical knowledge with a collaborative and supportive leadership style.

To be considered, you'll need:

• A professional accounting qualification - ACCA, ACA or CIMA
• Strong technical accounting experience, including complex areas such as subsidiaries, joint ventures, audit and tax
• Experience leading an accounting team in a similar role
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards and statutory reporting
• A good working understanding of key tax areas
• The ability to explain technical accounting matters clearly
• Strong Excel and finance system skills
• Good organisation skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• High personal integrity and accountability

Our values: We take responsibility - we do what we say we'll do and make the right choices, even when they're not the easiest. We're better together - we work as one team, value different perspectives, and achieve more by collaborating. We show empathy - we listen, respect one another and care about our colleagues, customers and environment. We're ambitious - we keep learning, improving and looking for better ways to make a positive difference.