Management Accountant in Manchester

We're looking for a Senior Management Accountant to join our finance team supporting our financial services division. In this role you will lead the preparation of the monthly management accounts for the Financial Services arm of the business, produce analysis to forecast, and oversee preparation of reporting packs to deliver insightful analysis on results to senior stakeholders. You will act as business partner to the Financial Services team, ensuring that results are reported on a timely and accurate basis and trends and deviations from forecasts are fully understood. Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, this role is fundamental to delivering the financial objectives of the group to achieve our growth ambitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the preparation, governance, and maintenance of the management accounts for Financial Services, ensuring accurate accounting records are produced and reported to key stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Review detailed management accounts; provide in-depth analytical review, specifically comparing performance versus prior period & budget, with narrative and explanations of trends. Resolve and communicate reasons for key variances each month to the wider Finance team, senior management and other stakeholders.
• Oversight and review of the preparation of the financial services weekly KPI reports.
• Analyse and communicate trends in weekly KPIs to senior stakeholders, including the Director of Financial Services, Director of Credit Risk and Director of FS Commercial Finance.
• Support on review production of FCA reporting requirements.
• Responsible for producing reporting packs for monthly Financial Services committee meetings, including presenting key results and confidently explaining trends.
• Ensure that debt sale accounting is appropriately reflected in the management accounts.
• Provide hands on support for establishing balance sheet control across the division, including regular detailed review of balance sheets with significant focus on material balances to identify balance sheet risks.
• Creation of a strong control environment across all areas on financial services finance, ensuring that there is 'one source of the truth' and that reports utilised are accurate and consistent.
• Develop and evolve month end reporting and analysis to better communicate financial performance to key stakeholders.
• Lead and key audit contact for the financial services audit process, including interim and year end coordination, preparation of relevant technical papers, including IFRS 9.
• Support peers with financial accounting and the production of financial services related disclosures in the Group Annual Report and subsidiary financial statements.
• Develop stakeholder relationships across their division and wider enterprise.
• Support the development of a robust control environment by continuously identifying opportunities to improve financial systems and processes and by implementing these changes.
• Support ongoing non-business as usual project work within the finance team as and when required, including projects relating to inventory financial management.
• Maintain up to date and accurate policy & process documents engaging with other teams and stakeholders for process signoff.
• Manage workloads, identify future requirements, and support the Group Financial Controller with continuous improvement.
• Line manager or the Financial Services management accountant, encouraging learning and development, setting objectives, coaching, and providing constructive feedback through regular one-to-one meetings.
• Any other duties required by the business that are appropriate with the post, grade, and level of responsibility of this role, for which the holder has the necessary experience and training.

Requirements / Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will be qualified (ACA preferred) and will have financial services experience.
• The candidate will demonstrate the following:

• To look to challenge current ways of working and promote best practices within the Finance team.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate and partner internally with other teams, and support key members of the finance leadership team.
• Detailed understanding of IFRS 9 and ECL calculations.
• Strong commercial acumen and attention to detail.
• Excellent excel and analytical skills.
• SQL experience beneficial but not essential.
• Experience with Oracle Fusion products preferable but not essential.

• Qualified accountant with experience of financial services, experienced in multiple areas of financial management.
• Technically astute and an appreciation of applicable financial reporting standards is critical.
• Being close to the detail, data driven and analytical whilst also being able to articulate results clearly to non-finance individuals.
• Strong operational delivery track record, motivated to implement/deliver on time to quality standards and build new efficient processes.
• Demonstrate ability to quickly appraise complex situations, identify key issues and make tough, timely decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal relationships and ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships.

Benefits

• Hybrid working (3 days in the office at a minimum).
• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays).
• Annual bonus scheme.
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave.
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution.
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services.
• A range of financial wellbeing support.
• Stream - a financial wellbeing tool that helps you track your pay, access earnings early and manage your money with confidence.
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands.
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance.
• Paid volunteer time - all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice.

About N Brown

N Brown is a leading UK digital retail platform for clothing, footwear, home and technology, headquartered in Manchester and employing over 1,200 people nationwide. Through our strategic retail brands JD Williams, Jacamo and Simply Be and our unique payments offering, we exist to champion inclusivity and serve the underserved. Our customers are our passion, and we take great pride in delivering products that ensure they can look and feel amazing, without compromising on choice, value and accessibility. We're committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by 'championing inclusion, we'll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer'. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture. In May 2024 we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone and we're so proud to have made this list - as voted for by our very own colleagues!

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you're in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we're perfectly located, plus we're surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat! Our working hours are 36.17 per week and our core working hours are between 10am - 4pm. Given we don't have strict working hours you can find the working pattern that's right for you.