At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial accounting and reporting for a growing UK business in early years education.
- Company: Join Banana Moon, a beloved childcare brand backed by a leading North American education provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 28 days leave, pension scheme, and childcare discounts.
- Other info: Dynamic role with genuine career growth opportunities in a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in finance while collaborating across the UK and US.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong UK GAAP knowledge and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Learning Experience (TLE) is one of the fastest-growing early years education providers in the US, and through its Banana Moon brand, has an established and growing presence in the UK. We are looking for a Senior Finance & Reporting Accountant to be based at Banana Moon HQ in Warwick, providing financial accounting, reporting, and business partnering support across our UK business — spanning Banana Moon franchised and corporate nurseries as well as the four TLE-operated centres in the UK. This is a hands-on role suited to a commercially minded accountant who is comfortable working in a transatlantic business structure, can manage month-end independently, and has the communication skills to liaise between UK operations and US finance leadership. You will report to senior finance leadership and play a key role in building out the financial rigour of our growing UK business.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Accounting & Reporting
- Lead the monthly close process for UK entities, including journal entries, accruals, and general ledger maintenance.
- Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations and bank reconciliations.
- Prepare management accounts and financial reporting packs for UK operations.
- Perform variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior periods, with clear commentary for non-finance stakeholders; track key financial and operational KPIs on a monthly basis to support performance management and early identification of emerging risks.
- Maintain accurate records in line with UK GAAP (FRS 102) and support compliance with HMRC obligations including VAT returns.
- Assist with year-end statutory accounts preparation and support the external audit process.
- US Consolidation & Transatlantic Collaboration
- Collaborate with the US finance team to consolidate UK financial results into the group reporting structure.
- Produce UK financial reporting in formats compatible with US corporate requirements and timelines.
- Act as a key point of contact for the US finance team on UK accounting matters, supporting alignment between UK GAAP and US GAAP where required.
- Participate in cross-border finance initiatives, process improvement projects, and system development.
- Franchise Network Support
- Support financial performance analysis of the Banana Moon franchise network.
- Review financial information submitted by UK franchise centres and ensure consistency with reporting standards.
- Support the internal franchise team across all departments with accounting and finance queries, including budgeting, VAT, and expense management.
- FP&A & Business Partnering
- Own the annual budgeting and rolling forecast process for UK entities, coordinating inputs across operations, headcount, and occupancy costs, and delivering a consolidated view aligned to Group timelines.
- Build and maintain dynamic financial models to support scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and strategic decision-making across the UK business.
- Develop and maintain forecast assumptions, documenting key drivers and ensuring alignment between actuals, short-term forecast, and long-range plan.
- Act as a primary business partner to UK operational leadership, translating financial performance data into clear, decision-ready insights and actionable commentary.
- Coordinate with US Group headquarters on UK planning submissions, ensuring forecast deliverables meet corporate requirements for consolidation and Board-level reporting.
- Monitor performance against budget and forecast on an ongoing basis, proactively flagging risks and opportunities and recommending corrective actions to UK and Group management.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with UK operations, HR/People, and payroll teams to support accurate payroll accounting and cash management.
- Work closely with the UK People & HR team on headcount reporting and labour cost analysis.
- Support the preparation of audit schedules and respond to internal and external audit requests.
- Work with accounts receivable and accounts payable functions to support timely month-end cut-off, reconciliation of intercompany balances, and resolution of aged items.
Requirements
- Essential
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- ACA, ACCA, CIMA qualified or part-qualified — or actively progressing toward qualification.
- 3–5+ years of accounting experience in practice (public accounting) or industry.
- Strong technical knowledge of UK GAAP (FRS 102) and month-end close processes.
- Confident with VAT compliance and an understanding of HMRC reporting requirements.
- Advanced Excel skills; comfortable working with large datasets and building financial models.
- Strong communication skills — ability to translate financial information for non-finance audiences.
- Comfortable working independently and managing competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Desirable
- Experience in a multi-entity or group accounting environment.
- Exposure to US GAAP or experience supporting international consolidation.
- Familiarity with ERP systems such as NetSuite, Oracle, or similar.
- Experience in the childcare, education, leisure, or franchise sector.
- Experience with account reconciliation tools such as BlackLine.
Benefits
Why Join Us: Banana Moon is a well-loved UK childcare brand with over 50 franchised nurseries and a reputation for quality, community, and warmth. As part of The Learning Experience family, we are backed by one of the largest early years education providers in North America — which means career growth, transatlantic exposure, and the chance to build something meaningful as our UK footprint expands.
- Competitive salary — in line with experience and market rate.
- 28 days annual leave including Bank Holidays.
- Auto-enrolment pension scheme.
- Childcare fee discount at Banana Moon and TLE centres.
- Genuine career development opportunity as the UK business grows.
- A collaborative, people-first culture with strong US and UK leadership support.
Senior Finance and Reporting Accountant in Warwick employer: Dormont Manufacturing Co
Banana Moon, part of The Learning Experience family, is an exceptional employer that offers a collaborative, people-first culture and strong leadership support from both the UK and US. With a commitment to employee growth, you will have genuine opportunities for career development as our UK business expands, alongside competitive benefits such as a generous annual leave package and childcare fee discounts. Join us at our Warwick HQ to be part of a well-loved brand that values quality and community in early years education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance and Reporting Accountant in Warwick
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who might have insights into the UK or US markets. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you wouldn't find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your financial knowledge and understanding of UK GAAP. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the role at Banana Moon, and don’t forget to showcase your communication skills!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to get comfortable discussing your experience and answering tricky questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t just apply anywhere; apply through our website! It shows you're genuinely interested in joining the Banana Moon team and helps us keep track of your application. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance and Reporting Accountant in Warwick
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Finance & Reporting Accountant role. Highlight your accounting qualifications, month-end close experience, and any relevant financial reporting skills to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the role and how your background aligns with our needs at Banana Moon. Don’t forget to show your enthusiasm for working in a transatlantic business structure!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since this role involves liaising between UK operations and US finance leadership, make sure to demonstrate your strong communication skills in your application. Use clear language and examples that show you can translate complex financial data for non-finance audiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Banana Moon!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dormont Manufacturing Co
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance and Reporting Accountant, you’ll need to be on top of your financial game. Brush up on UK GAAP (FRS 102) and be ready to discuss how you've managed month-end processes in the past. Prepare specific examples of your experience with journal entries, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
This role requires liaising between UK operations and US finance leadership, so practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. Think about how you can translate financial performance data into actionable insights for non-finance stakeholders and be prepared to demonstrate this during the interview.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Transatlantic Collaboration
Since the role involves working closely with the US finance team, it’s crucial to understand the differences between UK GAAP and US GAAP. Research any recent changes or challenges in transatlantic finance collaboration and be ready to discuss how you would navigate these in your role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Planning
You’ll be expected to build and maintain dynamic financial models, so come prepared with examples of how you’ve done this before. Think about how you approach scenario planning and sensitivity analysis, and be ready to share your thought process and any tools you’ve used, like advanced Excel functions.
