At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide essential management accounting and budgeting services to support leadership teams.
- Company: Transport for the North, transforming transport in the North of England.
- Benefits: 28 days holiday, local government pension scheme, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on transport systems while developing your financial expertise.
- Qualifications: Qualified or part-qualified accountant with strong analytical and communication skills.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to equality and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Transport for the North was established in 2018 as the first Sub-national Transport Body in England and was formed to transform the transport system for the North of England, providing the strategic infrastructure needed for enhanced economic growth. As a partnership, we bring together the North's local transport authorities and business leaders together with delivery partners, like Network Rail and National Highways, and work closely with government. We work with our partners to support and enable delivery of the North's Strategic Transport Plan ambitions to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.
Our role is to add strategic value by ensuring that funding and strategy decisions about transport in the North are informed by local knowledge and requirements. Our vision is of a thriving North of England, where modern transport connections drive economic growth and support an excellent quality of life.
As a Management Accountant at TfN, you will provide essential management accounting, budgeting and reporting services to support our leadership and operational teams. You will act as a trusted financial partner, offering expert advice, developing our financial systems, and ensuring that robust controls underpin everything we do. This role offers a unique opportunity to work across a wide range of financial activities, from transactional oversight and cash management to business partnering, audit support, and system development. You will also play a key role in producing high-quality financial information to TfN's Boards, Directorates and external partners.
What we’re looking for:
- A qualified or part-qualified accountant (CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA) or equivalent experience
- Strong experience in management accounting, ideally within the public sector or a similar environment
- Excellent analytical skills with strong systems and Excel capability
- A confident communicator able to explain technical financial concepts clearly
- Someone who can innovate, collaborate, and build trusted working relationships
- Experience supporting or leading improvements to financial processes and reporting
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Delivering an effective management accounting service, including month-end, reporting packs, financial monitoring and budget analysis
- Supporting and enhancing TfN's financial systems, processes and controls
- Providing insightful business partnering to directorates, helping them understand financial performance and make informed decisions
- Overseeing transactional processes including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, payroll, banking and reconciliations
- Supporting cash management, treasury activities, audit processes and the preparation of the Annual Statement of Accounts
- Working collaboratively across the organisation, sharing expertise and contributing to broader projects and improvements
Closing Date: 12:00pm 25th February 2026
Provisional Interview Date: w/c 2nd March
In return, as well as a competitive salary, our other benefits are:
- 28 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays
- Access to the local government pension scheme
- Access to various salary sacrifice benefits, including Travel Pass purchase scheme
- Access to TfN's Flexi-Time Scheme, allowing accrual of up to 18 additional days leave per year
If you believe you have the skills and experience we’re looking for please apply online, ensuring that in your application you provide evidence in the form of specific examples of how you meet the essential criteria in the role profile. All candidates will be required to prove their right to work in the UK as part of the recruitment process.
At TfN, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We are particularly keen to encourage applications from women, members of ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities who are currently under-represented. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, all applications will be considered on their merit.
As an organisation we always strive to do the right thing and understand that in order to make a difference in our society and workplace, we must be committed to respecting equality and diversity, showing kindness, tackling discrimination and promoting inclusion.
We are also an accredited Living Wage Employer, this means that every employee earns a real Living Wage and are recognised as Disability Confident employer (stage 2) acting as a disability confident champion within our local and business communities and business networks.
Management Accountant in Manchester employer: Transport for the North
Contact Detail:
Transport for the North Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Management Accountant in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Transport for the North on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the company culture and what they really value in candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to management accounting. We should also be ready to discuss how our skills align with TfN's mission of driving sustainable growth in the North.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase our analytical skills during the interview. Bring examples of how we've improved financial processes in previous roles. This will demonstrate our ability to innovate and collaborate effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can tailor our submission to highlight how we meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description.
We think you need these skills to ace Management Accountant in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Management Accountant role. Use specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your expertise in management accounting and financial processes.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since strong analytical skills are key for this position, don’t shy away from sharing instances where you’ve used these skills effectively. Whether it’s through budgeting, reporting, or improving financial processes, let us see your analytical prowess in action!
Communicate Clearly: As a confident communicator, it’s important to explain technical financial concepts clearly. In your application, aim for clarity and conciseness, ensuring that even complex ideas are easy to understand. This will show us you can bridge the gap between finance and non-finance teams.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about us and what we stand for at Transport for the North!
How to prepare for a job interview at Transport for the North
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Management Accountant, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past roles. Prepare examples of how you've improved financial processes or reporting in previous positions.
✨Understand the Public Sector Landscape
Since this role is within the public sector, it's crucial to understand the unique challenges and opportunities it presents. Familiarise yourself with Transport for the North's mission and recent initiatives. This will help you articulate how your skills align with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
You'll need to explain complex financial concepts clearly. Practice articulating your thoughts on financial performance and decision-making processes. Consider using real-life scenarios where you've successfully communicated financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to innovate and collaborate. Think of specific examples where you've built trusted relationships or led improvements in financial processes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.