At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist schools with budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting to empower decision-making.
- Company: Join a leading educational group focused on strengthening their finance team.
- Benefits: Enjoy a salary of £33,000, 26 days holiday, hybrid working, and flexible benefits.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education by providing crucial financial insights.
- Qualifications: AAT qualified or part-qualified with management accounting experience.
The predicted salary is between 33000 - 33000 £ per year.
Your new company Hays Accountancy & Finance are delighted to be partnering with an educational group who are strengthening their finance team in the search for a new Management Accountant who will assist with the schools' budgets and forecast preparation as well as support the wider finance. This role will be based in Peterborough and offer hybrid working.
Your new role You will join the organisation as a Management Accountant (AAT qualified or part‑qualified), taking a pivotal role in delivering timely, accurate financial information that empowers school leaders and senior managers to make confident, evidence‑based decisions. You will work closely with Finance Business Partners, school business managers and the central finance team to maintain strong financial controls, support audits and ensure compliance with accounting policies and regulations.
Your responsibilities will be to produce accurate monthly management accounts, including profit & loss, and balance sheet reporting, month‑end processes such as accruals, prepayments and journals, and reconciliations. As an inquisitive finance professional, you will investigate budget variances and queries, produce clear financial analysis and actionable insight, recommend opportunities to maximise income and improve budget monitoring / expenditure across their mufti sites. Your financial reporting and insights will play a pivotal role in providing the schools with good quality financial information to empower them in decision-making.
What you'll need to succeed The successful candidate will be AAT qualified or part‑qualified (eg: ACCA, CIMA), with proven experience in management accounting and month‑end close processes, ideally across multiple sites or cost centres. You will be highly proficient in Excel and be confident with accounting systems, (any experience of ACCESS Dimensions would be desirable, but not essential) and be able to prepare accruals, prepayments, journals, P&L and balance sheet reconciliations, as well as be skilled at analysing variances and translating financial data into clear, practical advice for non‑specialists.
You will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication, strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, meticulous attention to detail, able to meet tight deadlines and have a collaborative, proactive mindset with a track record of suggesting process improvements to maximise income and strengthen budgetary control.
What you'll get in return As explained, this role is based in Peterborough and after a qualifying period, you will be able to work 2 days in the office and 3 days from home with the occasional off-site meeting. The generous benefits package includes a salary of £33,000, 26 days holiday plus bank holidays, pension scheme, life cover and other flexible benefits. Please note an enhanced DBS check will be requested for the successful candidate.
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, and call Andy Jarman on (phone number removed). If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Management Accountant in Cambridge employer: Hays Accounts and Finance
Join an educational group in Peterborough as a Management Accountant and enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With a hybrid working model, generous benefits including 26 days of holiday, and a collaborative environment, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on financial decision-making within schools while enjoying a healthy work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Management Accountant in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who work in education. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your financial knowledge and being ready to discuss your experience with month-end processes. We recommend practising common interview questions related to management accounting to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've tackled budget variances or improved financial processes in previous roles. This will demonstrate your value to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals like you to join our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Management Accountant in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Management Accountant role. Highlight your AAT qualifications, relevant experience, and any specific skills like Excel proficiency or knowledge of accounting systems. We want to see how you fit into our team!
Showcase Your Skills:In your application, don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Talk about how you've improved budget monitoring or provided actionable insights in previous roles. This helps us see the impact you can make.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your cover letter, keep it clear and concise. Use straightforward language to explain why you're the perfect fit for the role. Remember, we appreciate good communication skills, so let that shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Accounts and Finance
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Management Accountant, you'll need to be comfortable with financial data. Brush up on your knowledge of profit & loss statements, balance sheets, and month-end processes. Be ready to discuss how you've handled these in previous roles and any specific challenges you faced.
✨Excel Skills are Key
Since proficiency in Excel is crucial for this role, make sure you can demonstrate your skills during the interview. Prepare to talk about specific functions or tools you've used, like pivot tables or VLOOKUP, and how they helped you analyse financial data effectively.
✨Show Your Analytical Side
The ability to analyse variances and provide actionable insights is vital. Think of examples where you've identified budget discrepancies and how you approached resolving them. This will showcase your problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
✨Communicate Clearly
You'll need to translate complex financial information into clear advice for non-specialists. Practice explaining financial concepts in simple terms, as this will demonstrate your communication skills and ability to collaborate with school leaders and managers.
