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- Tasks: Lead financial operations and mentor a dynamic finance team in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Top automotive retailer in the UK with a focus on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, health perks, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and continuous improvement in a vibrant workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in finance while enjoying a supportive and inclusive culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in accounting and team leadership; qualified accountant preferred but not essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 ÂŁ per year.
About us: We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland.
Location: Gateshead / Hybrid (with occasional travel as required)
Hours: 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm with a 30 minute lunch break.
The role: Weâre looking for an experienced Senior Accountant to play a key role within our Central Finance team. This position provides essential support to the Central Finance Manager and is responsible for the accurate delivery of monthly financial operations, ensuring the integrity of transactional accounting, strong balance sheet control, and a timely monthâend close. Youâll combine handsâon technical accounting with leadership, partnership and commercial insight, helping to drive highâquality reporting, robust financial governance and continuous improvement across the central function.
Key responsibilities:
- Prepare monthly management accounts and commentary for review with the Central Finance Manager.
- Review and maintain monthly balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Support Finance Business Partners with annual budgets, forecasts, and ad hoc financial information requests.
- Lead, mentor, and supervise members of the finance team, including performance reviews and career development.
- Analyse working capital performance, highlighting risks and recommending actions to support healthy cash flow.
- Authorise large payments, requisitions, expenses (T&E), refunds, and writeâoffs within agreed thresholds.
- Support the preparation of documentation for internal and external audits.
- Ensure strong financial governance, compliance, and adherence to finance policies and procedures.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with Central and Group Finance teams and wider stakeholders.
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement, standardisation, simplification, and increased financial awareness.
About you:
- Proven experience working as an Accountant, ideally within a complex or fastâpaced environment.
- Experience leading or managing finance team members.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge combined with sound commercial awareness.
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) preferred but not essential.
- Confident communicator with the ability to build effective relationships across the business.
- Proactive, detailâoriented, and motivated to improve processes and ways of working.
Core Benefits:
- Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression as you grow within the business.
- Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service.
- Enhanced family leave, including 6 monthsâ full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeksâ full pay for paternity leave.
- Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments.
- Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs.
- Smart Health â 24/7 access to GP services to support your mental and physical wellbeing.
- Dental insurance for everyday dental care and unexpected treatments.
- Optional critical illness cover.
Financial Wellbeing:
- MyView PayNow â access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a userâfriendly app.
- Free will writing services to help plan for the future.
- Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection.
- Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle.
- Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence.
- Access to home and technology vouchers.
- bYond card and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts.
Lookers and Charles Hurst are equal opportunity employers. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.
Senior Accountant in Gateshead employer: Lookers
Contact Detail:
Lookers Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Senior Accountant in Gateshead
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who might know someone at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical accounting skills and understanding the company's financial operations. We want you to showcase your expertise and how you can contribute to their success.
â¨Tip Number 3
Donât forget to ask insightful questions during your interview! This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand if the company culture aligns with your values.
â¨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for a smoother process! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and you can keep track of your progress easily.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Accountant in Gateshead
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your accounting expertise and any leadership roles you've had, as weâre looking for someone who can mentor and support our finance team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why youâre the perfect fit for the Senior Accountant role. Share specific examples of your past achievements and how they align with our goals at StudySmarter. This is your chance to show off your personality!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Since this role requires strong technical accounting knowledge, donât shy away from mentioning your qualifications and relevant software experience. We want to see how you can contribute to our financial operations right from the get-go.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itâs the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures youâre considered for the role. Plus, it shows youâre keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lookers
â¨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Accountant, youâll need to demonstrate your technical accounting skills. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've managed monthly accounts and reconciliations in the past. Show them you can handle the numbers with confidence!
â¨Show Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading and mentoring a finance team, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed or developed team members. Think about specific situations where your leadership made a difference and be ready to share those stories.
â¨Understand Their Business
Research the companyâs operations and the automotive retail industry. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially regarding financial governance and compliance. This shows you're not just a fit for the role but also for their culture.
â¨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the company. Inquire about their approach to continuous improvement in finance processes or how they support their finance teamâs development. This demonstrates your proactive mindset and genuine interest in the position.