Group Management Accountant in England

As Group Management Accountant, you will be accountable for the accuracy, insight, and commercial relevance of the Group's financial reporting and manufacturing performance analysis. This is a hands‑on and commercially focused role, responsible for delivering meaningful financial insight that supports operational decision‑making, strategic planning, and performance improvement across a multi‑entity, multi‑SBU, manufacturing and trading environment. You will own the Group's management reporting architecture, manufacturing accounting model, budgeting and forecasting processes, and performance analytics. Given the nature of the business – high‑volume, operationally complex, and commercially dynamic – the role requires a naturally curious mindset. You will look beyond the numbers to understand drivers, challenge assumptions, and continuously seek to improve the clarity and usefulness of financial information. You will manage and develop direct reports, ensuring high standards of analytical output, accuracy, and professional development within the management accounting function.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Management Reporting & Insight
  • Prepare timely and accurate monthly Group management accounts, including clear variance analysis and through partnering with the business, add commercially meaningful commentary.
  • Play a key role in the design, build, and continuously enhance the Group's management reporting packs.
  • Develop and maintain KPI frameworks and performance dashboards in collaboration with operational stakeholders.
  • Deliver forward‑looking financial insight including trend analysis, scenario modelling, and identification of risks and opportunities.
  • Support in the development and ownership of balance sheet and cashflow forecasting.
  • Support strategic initiatives through investment appraisal, business case evaluation, and financial modelling.
• Manufacturing & Margin Ownership
  • Own the end‑to‑end manufacturing accounting model and reporting logic.
  • Lead margin analysis, cost analysis, and overhead recovery methodologies.
  • Analyse stock movements and valuation trends (in collaboration with transactional finance).
  • Ensure manufacturing variances are meaningful, understood, and action‑oriented.
  • Continuously refine costing methodologies to improve visibility and decision support.
• Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning
  • Lead annual budgeting, periodic reforecasting, and longer‑term financial planning processes.
  • Work closely with operational and departmental leaders to build robust and aligned forecasts.
  • Provide analytical challenge to assumptions and performance expectations.
• Group Reporting & Financial Integrity
  • Own basic consolidation logic and group reporting structures.
  • Work closely with the Finance Manager to review balance sheet reconciliations prepared by the Finance team, ensuring integrity and completeness.
  • Provide analytical oversight of month‑end outputs prior to final reporting.
  • Support year‑end statutory audit processes in partnership with the Head of Finance.
• Systems & Reporting Architecture
  • Support the structure, design, and optimisation of management reporting systems and dashboards.
  • Act as lead for finance relevant company systems and automation initiatives impacting financial insight.
  • Act as product co‑owner for FloQast from a reporting and output perspective, ensuring reporting integrity and efficiency.
• Leadership & Continuous Improvement
  • Manage and develop direct reports within the management accounting team.
  • Undertake regular 1:1s, objective setting, and performance reviews.
  • Identify training and development needs to support professional growth and succession planning.
  • Promote analytical rigour, professional curiosity, and continuous improvement.
  • Review existing reporting processes and recommend best‑practice enhancements.
  • Undertake ad‑hoc analytical projects as required.

Person Specification

• Qualifications
  • Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or qualified by experience - Essential.
• Skills
  • Strong management accounting and financial analysis capability - Essential.
  • Advanced Excel skills including modelling and data interrogation - Essential.
  • Strong commercial acumen and ability to translate data into insight - Essential.
  • Ability to influence and challenge constructively - Essential.
  • Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities - Essential.
  • High attention to detail and accuracy - Essential.
  • Leadership capability and experience managing or mentoring direct reports - Essential.
  • Strong systems aptitude and reporting tool experience - Essential.
• Knowledge
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing and trading sector finance - Essential.
  • In‑depth knowledge of costing, margin analysis, and performance measurement - Essential.
  • Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling - Essential.
  • Understanding of group consolidation principles - Essential.
• Experience
  • Proven experience in a management accounting or FP&A role within a manufacturing/trading environment - Essential.
  • Experience owning month‑end reporting and management accounts preparation - Essential.
  • Experience developing reporting packs, dashboards, and KPI frameworks - Essential.
  • Experience supporting strategic decision‑making with financial analysis - Essential.
  • Experience reviewing and improving reporting processes - Essential.
  • Experience using reporting tools such as Power BI - Desirable.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per annum (including Christmas closure) rising to 26 days after 5 years and 27 days after 10 years, plus bank holidays (pro‑rated for part‑time staff).
• GBP 200 per annum for health and wellbeing activity / gym membership (after 1 year of service).
• Voucher awards for ideas.
• Social committee organising departmental events and activities.
• Summer BBQ and/or Christmas party for whole company and partners.
• Free parking.
• Modern offices with kitchen and break facilities.
• Community / Charity day with line manager approval.
• Opportunity to get involved with events and initiatives to support local charities.
• 1 piece of PBH branded merchandise as a welcome / thank you for being part of the PBH team!
• 10% discount at a local independent gym.
• Ongoing support, development and training in line with needs of the role and business.
• Financial support to cover cost of specialist eyesight tests for DSE users & glasses for DSE use (including frames that cost up to GBP 50).
• Auto‑enrolment for eligible staff - 8% Pension with NowPensions - (3% Employer & 5% Employee on qualifying earnings).