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- Tasks: Lead the finance team and drive business performance in a dynamic automotive environment.
- Company: Top automotive retailer in the UK with a focus on people and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, car allowance, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a strategic leadership role with growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in senior roles and strong technical skills.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model and commitment to career development.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ 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. We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we are committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That is why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.
Location: Yorkshire/North East with Travel to regional dealerships
Reporting To: Head of Commercial and Operational Finance
Salary: Competitive basic salary + bonus up to 10% + Company Car / Car Allowance
Role overview
The Senior Accounting Manager is a strategic and leadership position within the Finance department, responsible for the accounting cycle and financial performance of the Fleet Division. The role requires a combination of an accounting skillset to ensure financial control and commercial acumen to partner with the Heads of Business and Operational Teams to drive business performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Controllership
Complete final reviews, commentary and sign-off of the Division P&L and Balance Sheet; and embed a rigorous and consistent balance sheet process across dealerships. Embed strong financial controls and compliance processes to safeguard the business, ensuring consistency across the division. - Leadership and Team Development
Lead, coach, and develop the Divisional Accounting team, fostering a high-performance culture. Complete performance appraisals and manage the career development of the team. Drive accounting agenda ins with the Heads of Business and Operations Teams to discuss the Division's financial performance and plan, ensuring we are focusing on the right metrics and being led by current business strategy and performance. - Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
Collaborate with Finance Business Partners to deliver accurate forecasts and financial plans (profit, cash flow, costs). Work with finance business partners and Heads of Finance to deliver a robust budgeting process. - Performance Insights & Analysis
Working with the Business Partners to provide analysis of the Division's financial performance and KPIs to Heads of Business and Operations Teams. Influence operational decisions through data-driven insights. - Audit Preparation
Coordinate the preparation of all necessary documentation for internal and external auditors and ensure internal policies are relevant and complied with. - Management Accounts and Reporting
Provide final analysis and executive commentary on Divisional reporting sent to the Group's Leadership Team. - Working Capital Control
Oversee working capital performance across the Division and ensure there is necessary cash flow to meet obligations under Financial Controllership. Ensure vehicle funding positions are maintained, stock targets understood and a key KPI in divisions; and debt is proactively reduced. - Composite Reporting
Complete final reviews, commentary and sign-off of the composite reports, ensuring consistency across the division.
What We’re Looking For
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) preferable.
- Proven track record in senior accounting roles within automotive, retail, or multi-site environments.
- Strong technical expertise combined with commercial awareness.
- Advanced MS Excel skills and experience with Dealer Management Systems (Keyloop, Pinewood).
- Detail-oriented, proactive, and passionate about process improvement and system optimisation.
- Experience of people management.
Why Join Us?
- A strategic leadership role with real impact on business performance and the opportunity to lead and shape the finance function.
- Competitive package including bonus and car allowance.
- Opportunity to pursue a broad finance career within Lookers.
- Training and development support.
- Hybrid working model with flexibility and autonomy.
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 months' full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeks' full pay for paternity leave.
- Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments.
Health & Wellbeing
- Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs.
- Smart Health - 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 for peace of mind during life's most challenging moments.
Financial Wellbeing
- MyView PayNow - access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a user-friendly app.
- Free will writing services to help plan for the future.
- Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection.
Leisure & Lifestyle
- Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle.
- Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence.
- Access to home and technology vouchers and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts.
We strongly believe in nurturing and providing our people with specific manufacturer brand and management training to enhance career development opportunities. We have a great bunch of people, and we like to celebrate and encourage success at all levels.
Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.
If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history and a standard criminal record check. For roles that require you to drive, a driving licence check will also be carried out. Please note, all offers of employment are made subject to a 6 month probation period commencing from your start date.
We take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and are committed to upholding and respecting your privacy rights. Information about how we will process your data including the types of data we collect, the purposes for which we use it, who we may share it with and how long we keep it are set out in our privacy notice. It also includes information about your individual privacy rights. Please make sure you read our Privacy Notice so that you understand how we may collect and use your data.
Senior Accounting Manager in Harrogate employer: Lookers
Contact Detail:
Lookers Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Accounting Manager in Harrogate
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the automotive and finance sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Familiarise yourself with their financial performance and recent news. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable discussing your experience and how it aligns with the Senior Accounting Manager role. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Accounting Manager in Harrogate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Accounting Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in financial controllership and team leadership, as well as any specific achievements in the automotive or retail sectors.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for finance and how your skills align with our needs, especially in driving business performance and managing financial processes.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your advanced MS Excel skills and experience with Dealer Management Systems. We want to see how you can leverage these tools to enhance our financial operations.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lookers
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Accounting Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive business performance in previous roles. This shows you understand the importance of numbers in decision-making.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role involves leading a team, so be prepared to share examples of how you've developed and coached others. Highlight specific instances where your leadership made a difference, whether through performance appraisals or fostering a high-performance culture.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the automotive retail industry and the specific challenges it faces. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the company's goals and how you can contribute to their success, especially in terms of financial controllership and compliance.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions about advanced MS Excel skills and your experience with Dealer Management Systems. Brush up on these tools and be ready to explain how you've used them to optimise processes and improve financial reporting in your past roles.