Assistant Manager - Accounts & Finance

Position: Assistant Manager – Accounts & Finance

Location: ON-SITE, London E14

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 per annum, depending on experience

Experience: 3-5 years' relevant accounting/finance experience preferred

Reporting to: Director of Accounts & Finance

About PEN Group

PEN Group operates across higher education, education services and student recruitment, bringing together education-focused businesses that work with universities, colleges, partners and students. As the Group continues to develop, the finance function plays an important role in supporting effective financial control, timely reporting and sound decision-making across a multi-entity environment.

Job Brief

PEN Group is seeking a motivated and capable Assistant Manager - Accounts & Finance to report directly to the Director of Accounts & Finance. The role will take meaningful ownership of day-to-day finance processes, monthly reporting and control activities, while supporting group reporting, consolidation, statutory accounts and audit work under the oversight of the Director of Accounts & Finance.

The successful candidate should have a strong grounding in accounting principles, be comfortable managing competing deadlines and be able to take ownership of assigned finance processes. Experience in higher education, education services, student recruitment or a group-company environment would be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts for assigned group entities, including supporting schedules, accruals, prepayments and variance analysis, for review by the Director of Accounts & Finance.
• Take ownership of assigned month-end close activities, ensuring journals, reconciliations and supporting schedules are completed accurately and within agreed reporting deadlines.
• Own routine balance sheet reconciliations, including bank, control, debtor, creditor and selected intercompany accounts, and investigate discrepancies promptly.
• Manage day-to-day accounts payable and accounts receivable activities, including invoice processing, payment preparation, credit control and supplier/customer queries.
• Prepare and maintain accurate intercompany schedules and support the reconciliation of balances between group entities.
• Support the preparation of group management reporting and consolidated financial information, including consolidation schedules, intercompany eliminations and adjustment entries under the review of the Director of Accounts & Finance.
• Maintain a good working understanding of consolidated financial statements and group accounting principles, and apply this knowledge when preparing supporting schedules and reconciliations.
• Prepare VAT returns and supporting reconciliations for assigned entities for review and approval by the Director of Accounts & Finance.
• Support cash-flow monitoring and short-term cash forecasting by maintaining accurate bank and payment information.
• Assist with payroll-related accounting, journals and reconciliations where required.
• Prepare year-end schedules and supporting documentation for statutory accounts and external audit, and respond to routine auditor queries in coordination with the Director of Accounts & Finance.
• Support reconciliations and reporting relating to student income, partner income, commissions and other education-related revenue streams where applicable.
• Work with colleagues across the Group to resolve finance queries and ensure complete and timely financial information.
• Maintain appropriate financial controls, documentation and accounting records in line with company policies.
• Identify practical opportunities to improve finance processes, reconciliations and reporting efficiency.
• Review selected work completed by junior finance colleagues and provide day-to-day guidance where appropriate.
• Undertake ad hoc financial analysis and other finance tasks as required by the Director of Accounts & Finance

Skills and Experience

• 3-5 years' relevant experience in an accounting or finance role is preferred.
• Experience preparing monthly management accounts and supporting month-end reporting.
• Good understanding of balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, prepayments and core accounting principles.
• Good understanding of consolidated financial statements and the basic principles of group accounting, including intercompany balances and eliminations.
• Experience with accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliations.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and confidence working with financial data.
• Experience using accounting software such as Xero, Sage, QuickBooks or a similar finance system.
• Strong numerical accuracy, attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and confidence dealing with internal and external stakeholders.

Highly Desirable

• Experience working in a group-company or multi-entity finance environment.
• Practical exposure to consolidation schedules, intercompany eliminations or group reporting.
• Previous experience in higher education, education, training or student recruitment.
• Experience supporting year-end statutory accounts and external audit processes.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related discipline is preferred.
• Part-qualified ACCA, CIMA or ACA, or actively studying towards a recognised professional accounting qualification, is advantageous.
• Candidates who are qualified by experience and demonstrate strong relevant technical accounting experience will also be considered.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, organised and dependable, with a willingness to take ownership of assigned responsibilities.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, growing and multi-entity organisation.
• Able to communicate financial information clearly to finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Professional when handling confidential and commercially sensitive information.
• A supportive team member who can provide guidance to junior colleagues when required.
• Committed to continuous learning and development.
• Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
• Company Sick Pay.
• Statutory maternity and paternity pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme (HA Wisdom Wellbeing)
• Virtual GP access (Livi)
• 'Speak Up Service' - confidential support service to report any workplace concerns
• Specialist physical and mental wellbeing support services with 24/7 confidential counselling support (Wisdom)
• Financial, legal and medical advice services provided (Wisdom)
• Life & Leadership coaching (Wisdom)
• Financial coaching (MUNNY)
• Discounts and perks, offering savings on shopping, activities and more (Bright Exchange)
• Career development and training opportunities.
• Training and self-development opportunities.

PEN Group is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment. Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified candidates regardless of background or protected characteristic, in line with applicable UK equality legislation.