Finance Manager (Maternity Leave Cover) in Brighton

THE COMPANY
Sopro provides sophisticated marketing services to a global client base, from innovative start‑ups to household brands. We continue to operate at the cutting edge, offering a fully managed, totally synchronised, multichannel outreach service. Sopro is committed to providing an inclusive, rewarding and fun place to work and received a “Best Place to Work” award at the UK Business Awards 2021.

ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a maternity leave cover opportunity for a Finance Manager, offering full ownership of day‑to‑day finance operations and month‑end close within a fast‑paced, growing business. You’ll take responsibility for core accounting, cash management, compliance, payroll oversight, and financial reporting, while acting as a trusted partner to stakeholders across the company. This role is hands‑on and delivery‑focused, ideal for someone confident operating autonomously, maintaining strong controls, and ensuring accuracy and timeliness across all finance activities during the cover period. This is a fixed‑term maternity cover contract with a duration of 18 months.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accounting, Close & Controls
  Own the end-to-end month‑end close process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and completeness. Post and review journals, including accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and other month‑end adjustments. Prepare and maintain balance sheet reconciliations for key accounts, resolving issues promptly. Maintain a strong control environment across all accounting processes.
• Payables, Expenses & Payroll
  Oversee and process supplier invoices, ensuring correct coding, approvals, and timely posting. Set up and manage supplier payments, including payment runs and manual payments as required. Manage the purchase ledger, including supplier statement reconciliations and query resolution. Process and review employee expenses in line with company policies. Review monthly payroll outputs, post payroll journals, reconcile payroll balance sheet accounts. Act as the internal point of contact for payroll providers and People teams.
• Cash, Banking & Treasury
  Maintain weekly and short‑term cash flow forecasts, ensuring liquidity and visibility. Reconcile all bank and expense accounts on a regular basis. Monitor cash balances and support treasury‑related activities, including surplus cash management. Act as a key point of contact for banks and payment providers.
• Intercompany, Tax & Compliance
  Manage intercompany invoicing and reconciliations, investigating and resolving differences. Support group reporting requirements and ensure consistency across entities. Prepare and submit VAT returns in line with UK VAT legislation. Support statutory reporting, audits, and ad‑hoc compliance requirements. Liaise with external advisors (tax, audit, payroll) as required.
• Reporting, Systems & Process Improvement
  Support monthly management reporting (P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow commentary if required). Provide ad‑hoc financial analysis to support decision‑making. Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis. Maintain and improve finance systems and processes, identifying opportunities to strengthen controls, automate processes, and improve data quality.

ABOUT YOU
Detail‑oriented finance professional with hands‑on experience across month‑end close, accounting, and reporting. Experienced working with Xero. Confident working across core accounting, payables, payroll oversight, cash management, and reconciliations in a controlled environment. Strong communicator, comfortable liaising with internal teams, external advisors, and banking partners. Proactive self‑starter who can manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and take ownership of processes end‑to‑end. Collaborative team player, willing to support others and contribute to continuous improvement. Comfortable working with finance systems and data, with strong Excel and MS Office skills.

ABOUT US
We’re the people behind the prospects. Our values permeate Sopro Group through our behaviours, not only as people but across the business. We invest in our people, their development, our products and our working environment. We are ambitious, encouraging passionate and imaginative collaboration. We celebrate each other’s successes, whilst giving back to our local communities. We are open and transparent, ensuring every team member has a voice.

WHAT WE OFFER
At Sopro we invest in our people – they are what makes our company great. Career progression plan supported by regular 360‑degree feedback. Company profit sharing – we’ll reward your loyalty by sharing 10% of the company’s net profit with employees. 25 Days Annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy/sell holiday. Health Cash Plan (reclaim costs for dental, physiotherapy, osteopathy and optical care). A range of tax‑efficient salary sacrifice schemes including electric vehicles, Cycle2Work, childcare and groceries. Financial wellbeing platform - access to financial advisors and a range of retail discounts. Hybrid working - 3 days from home, 2 days in the office. Wellbeing package adapted to the needs of our people. Regular sports, social activities, and lots of healthy snacks. Your work matters – we have an open door policy and value your opinion. Fixed‑term maternity cover contract with a duration of 18 months.