Accountant (maternity cover) in Sheffield

Sheffield City Centre (office-based and hybrid)

Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 pa (pro rata for the contract duration)

We’re looking for a qualified Accountant to join UniHomes on a 9-month maternity cover contract, starting in Feb/March 2026. This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact during a key growth phase. Alongside core accounting responsibilities, you’ll lead process improvements and drive system adoption (Salesforce and Sage Intacct) to enhance efficiency and reduce manual work.

If you enjoy balancing BAU tasks with strategic initiatives and want to leave a legacy of efficiency, this is the opportunity for you.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead short-term impact projects to streamline finance processes and reduce manual work.
• Champion system adoption by driving greater use of Sage Intacct and Salesforce across finance workflows.
• Act as a change agent, influencing stakeholders and embedding best practices during the contract period.
• Support the month-end close, including preparation and posting of journals, prepayments, and accruals.
• Assist with monthly management accounts and variance analysis, collaborating with the Management Accountant.
• Maintain and reconcile balance sheet control accounts, investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Process monthly payroll for approximately 140 employees across two companies using Sage, ensuring accurate and timely submission of PAYE and pension contributions.
• Ensure compliance with UK payroll legislation, including statutory payments and pension auto-enrolment.
• Manage supplier relationships, resolve queries, and ensure timely payments aligned to authorisation limits.
• Prepare and process weekly supplier payment runs, following internal controls.
• Maintain accurate bank and cash records, including daily reconciliations and correct allocation of transactions.
• Use Sage Intacct for financial reporting, transaction processing, and system-based workflows.
• Reconcile large and complex data sets accurately and efficiently as part of month-end and reporting.
• Assist with year-end accounts and audit schedules, responding to auditor queries.
• Provide operational finance support to other departments, including resolving coding queries and supporting budget tracking.
• Collaborate with Finance Assistants and provide cover during peak activity or absence.
• Support the Financial Controller and Finance Director with ad-hoc tasks and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills and experience:

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent), with practical experience in a fast-paced SME or scale-up.
• Demonstrable experience project-leading process or systems change in finance, including stakeholder management and delivery.
• Comfortable balancing hands-on accounting with strategic initiatives.
• Hands-on experience processing payroll for a medium-sized organisation (c.100+ employees), ideally using Sage.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including statutory payments and pension compliance.
• Proven experience reconciling large data sets and managing high transaction volumes.
• Strong understanding of double-entry bookkeeping and month-end processes, including journals, accruals, and prepayments.
• Confident in reconciling balance sheet accounts and investigating discrepancies.
• Comfortable with cloud-based finance systems; experience with Sage Intacct desirable.
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to translate manual processes into systemised workflows.
• Ability to interact professionally with suppliers and resolve queries promptly.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, with excellent organisation and time management.
• Clear, confident communicator able to work effectively across departments.
• Experience supporting external audits and preparing audit schedules is desirable.
• Experience with Salesforce is beneficial but not essential.
• Proactive approach to improving processes and maintaining strong internal controls.

At UniHomes, we’re on a mission to transform the entire student rental experience across the UK. As the market-leading student accommodation advertising platform and utility management service provider, we make finding and securing all-inclusive student accommodation simple, seamless, and stress-free.

We’re not just another platform. UniHomes is developing innovative technology to deliver one go-to destination that supports the entire student rental journey. With an unwavering focus on our students, partner letting agents, operators and suppliers, we continually evolve and enhance our products and services to exceed expectations, while tackling market complexity with ease and transparency.

Since launching in 2015, we’ve experienced rapid growth. Today, we operate in 60+ cities, partner with 1,000+ agents and operators, and are backed by Macquarie Capital and LDC. Our success has been recognised with accolades from EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, The Negotiator Awards, and Great Place to Work certification.

Our 140+ strong team is based in the heart of Sheffield City Centre, where we’re driving innovation, expanding into new markets, and fostering a culture built on collaboration, creativity, and growth.

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and help redefine how students find their perfect home, now is the time to join UniHomes. Be part of a team that’s opening new doors to better experiences, brighter ideas, and stress-free living.

We are a team driven and united by our core values:

• Lead the Way
• In it Together
• Customers Matter
• Keep it Simple
• Rise Above Challenges
• Make it Happen

With people and culture at the heart of our organisation, we are continually enhancing our employee offer and culture. We are incredibly proud to have been officially certified as a Great Place to Work (GPTW) and an accredited Living Wage employer - all our employees earn a fair living wage above the government minimum wage.

Working in our stunning new office at New Era Square in the centre of Sheffield, you will get complimentary breakfast, hot & cold drinks, snacks, pool table, holidays, length of service days, voluntary day, enhanced pension scheme, pension salary sacrifice scheme, healthcare scheme, Employee Assistant Programme, sick pay, enhanced maternity & paternity pay, career progression, a commitment to personal and professional development, employee of the month award, refer a friend scheme, staff discounts, mental health and financial support, and company social events.

At UniHomes we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone can thrive and which values individuals for their unique perspectives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to make the recruitment process more accessible to you.

Applicants for permanent roles must already have the permanent and unrestricted right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship as we do not hold a sponsor licence.

We want to hear your unique voice in your application. We love AI, but relying on it solely to write your cover letter and answer the application questions is a missed opportunity to showcase the originality and personality that will make you stand out. Please show us the real you.

We do not accept CV submissions from recruitment agencies. Direct applications from individual candidates are encouraged. Thank you for your understanding.