Senior Financial Accountant in Loughborough

There's plenty about Topps Tiles that might surprise you. Like the scale of our Support Office in Leicester. We have Finance, Marketing, Buying, Central Operations, HR, Property, Customer Service and IT all under one roof. Tight-knit teams of talented people working together and working hard to get things done and drive results. But then, would you expect anything less from an ambitious, dynamic, market-leading, multi-million-pound retail business? After delivering our 20% market share goal of "one in five" in 2023, we have launched our new goal - Mission 365 - targeting £365 million of sales.

Role Purpose

The Senior Financial Accountant is primarily responsible for leading core treasury and tax activities, alongside supporting key financial control processes to ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and strong balance sheet integrity. The role plays a critical part in cash management, statutory compliance, and maintaining robust financial controls, while providing insightful analysis to support business performance. In addition, the role provides day-to-day leadership to a Financial Accounting Assistant and management oversight of the Financial Analyst, while driving continuous improvement across financial processes and controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Accounting & Control: Lead month-end close activities within treasury, tax, and assigned financial control areas, ensuring timely, accurate reporting and full supporting documentation. Own and review balance sheet reconciliations within remit (including payroll, accruals, prepayments, interest, and other key control accounts), ensuring completeness and integrity. Maintain integrity of financial records for treasury and tax-related balances, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and internal controls. Review payroll-related journals and controls as part of month-end responsibilities, ensuring accuracy and appropriate oversight. Prepare and review key month-end journals within remit, including interest, payroll, FX/hedging, and accrual posting.
• Treasury & Cash Management: Manage daily cash flow and liquidity across group bank accounts. Prepare short- and medium-term cash flow forecasts and interest projections. Oversee debt facilities, loan drawdowns, and overdraft positions. Execute FX purchasing and hedging strategies. Produce treasury reporting and analysis at month end.
• Banking & External Relationships: Maintain relationships with banking partners. Act as system administrator for banking platforms and manage mandates. Ensure compliance with banking covenants and reporting requirements. Liaise with auditors, tax advisors, and other external stakeholders.
• Tax & Statutory Compliance: Prepare corporation tax calculations and forecasts, including payments on account. Manage VAT returns and PSA submissions. Coordinate year-end statutory accounts with auditors and advisors. Maintain compliance with HMRC and regulatory requirements.
• Budgeting & Financial Planning: Support budgeting processes, including store payroll budgeting. Provide variance analysis and insight into financial performance. Collaborate with FP&A teams to support planning and reporting cycles.
• Month-End, Quarterly & Year-End Activities: Month-end: journals, reconciliations, treasury reporting, payroll processing. Quarterly: additional payroll adjustments, reporting, and ad hoc analysis. Half-year/year-end: statutory reporting, tax submissions, insurance renewal, PSA calculations.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management: Line management of a Financial Accounting Assistant. Develop team capability and performance. Communicate effectively with finance and non-finance stakeholders. Support cross-functional collaboration and data sharing.
• Risk Management & Process Improvement: Ensure robust financial controls and compliance frameworks are in place. Identify financial risks and implement mitigation strategies. Drive continuous improvement initiatives across finance processes.

Key Stakeholders

• Financial Controller.
• CFO.
• Finance team.
• External stakeholders (banks, auditors, tax advisors).

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential: Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA). Strong technical accounting knowledge including treasury & Tax. Experience in balance sheet reconciliation and financial controls. Experience managing month-end and year-end processes. Team management experience. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable: Experience with Microsoft Dynamics or similar ERP systems. Advanced Excel skills. Treasury and FX management experience.

Key Competencies

• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities.
• Proactive and continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills.

What we'll do for you

In a culture where hard work is recognised and great results are rewarded; you can look forward to a company bonus that will give you a share of our success (up to 25% of your base salary). Then there's a generous staff discount, pension and life assurance, a holiday allowance that increases with length of service and a wide range of other benefits. Plus, flexible working, free on-site parking, generous discounts on products and services and more. A lot more. We're committed to promoting talent from within too, which means you'll be well-supported to build a rewarding career with an individual development plan and lots of training on offer.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Topps Group we believe that diversity isn't just a box to tick. We are committed to creating an authentic 'One Topps' culture, where our colleagues feel included and supported regardless of who they are or where they are from. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know - we're here to support you. Join us in shaping a culture where inclusion is more than a policy - it's a daily practice.