Assistant Management Accountant in Poole

Diversity matters. We are building a brand that represents the people of the world. It's what you do that counts, and we are always looking to expand perspectives and voices to shape our future. We see you, we celebrate you, we want you!

You might know us as the inventors of the bath bomb, but there's more to this great-smelling, partly employee‑owned, family‑run company than pioneering cosmetics. We believe our business should put more back into the world than it takes and demonstrate that capitalism can be a force for good. The Living Wage Foundation's statement 'a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay' is one that we are proud to commit to in the UK. As an accredited Living Wage employer, we put our people first and fight cruel practices like animal testing, promote regeneration, and show that it is what's inside that counts - whether that's an ingredient in a product, or the minerals in a smartphone.

The Role: Forming part of the Finance team, whilst working under the supervision of the Management Accountants and Finance Managers. You will be responsible for day to day finance function tasks and assisting in the preparation of monthly management accounts, maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring compliance with accounting standards. Across the Lush companies, we work as a collaborative team and aim to develop internally. By rotating tasks among team members, we ensure that everyone gains a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of our operations, enhancing individual skill sets but also fostering a culture of adaptability and versatility.

Please note: We may close this vacancy early if we receive an overwhelming response or our business requirements change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Weekly bank reconciliations supporting effective management of weekly cash forecasting.
• Reviewing the weekly payment runs including GBP and other currencies. Including 3 way checks to delivery notes, purchase order(s) and invoice(s).
• Control accounts management, including prepayments and accruals postings and ensuring lead schedules reconcile to the trial balance.
• Processing Intercompany sales and purchase invoices, ensuring correct prices charged.
• Agreeing intercompany balances and circulation of weekly debt report.
• Review of transactions ensuring costs are allocated to the correct nominal code.
• Cost of Goods analysis, review and commentary. Including review and investigation of variable cost of goods.
• Quarterly review of stock provisions.
• Capex review, maintaining the Fixed Asset Register and posting depreciation monthly.
• VAT returns, monthly review and preparation of quarterly returns. Including VAT deferment reconciliation.
• Support with collation and communication of regular reporting for Manufacturing room Managers.
• Monthly stock checks including attending spot checks and reporting back on stock check findings.
• Assist the Purchase Ledger team with queries and issue resolution.
• Support year-end and audit with the review of financial transactions for specific general ledger accounts to ensure accurate cost allocation.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise:

• 3+ years experience in a finance role and working in a team and a hand‑on and enthusiastic approach.
• Have a clear understanding of the basic accounting principles and double entry process (inc accruals/prepayments etc).
• Strong Excel, IT and online banking skills, including Google Workspace. Including confidence using functions such as VLOOKUPS and Pivot Tables.
• Great communication skills and a friendly telephone manner.
• 'Can do' approach with the ability to build and maintain relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience with systems including ERP Next, MayDay, Xero, Rydoo would be advantageous.
• Culturally, someone who is interested in Lush and our ethics.
• Quick to understand the LUSH finance infrastructure including processes and systems but confident in challenging existing processes and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Studying towards finance qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA, AAT) is desirable but not essential (study support may be available).

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• 6 months of full pay for parental leave (primary caregiver must qualify for SMP)*
• Enhanced paternity leave*
• Bonus scheme
• Day off for weekday birthdays
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 50% discount on Lush products and spa treatments
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted rail and bus season tickets
• Employee assistance programme
• Wellbeing & mindfulness sessions
• Access to employee-led Community Networks, including Disability and Chronic Illness, Family Support, Global Majority (Race and Ethnicity), LGBTQIA+, Menopause and Neurodiversity communities.
• Tailored gender affirming care*

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