Trainee Accountant in Bridgend

As a Trainee Management Accountant, you will join our Finance team and play a key role in supporting the delivery of accurate, timely, and insightful management reporting. This role is designed for someone at the beginning of their finance career who is eager to learn, develop technical skills, and progress towards a recognised professional qualification (AAT / CIMA / ACCA). Reporting to the Mill Controller, you will assist with weekly and monthly financial processes, forecasting activities, cost analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives that help support the wider operations and commercial teams. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment while receiving structured support for your professional studies.

Responsibilities:

• Supporting preparation of weekly and monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and KPI reporting.
• Assisting month‑end activities such as reconciliations, journals, data validation, and cost tracking.
• Mill overheads analysis and review with key stakeholders.
• Contributing to forecasting, budgeting, KPI updates, and financial modelling tasks.
• Providing data and analysis to support cost‑reduction, efficiency improvement, and operational decision‑making.
• Assisting with fixed asset controls, stores inventory checks, and purchasing compliance activities.
• Ensuring all financial documentation and audit trails are maintained to a high standard.
• Developing strong cross‑functional relationships with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Commercial teams.
• Demonstrating proactive ownership of personal development and exam progress.
• Data entry and reconciliation in group consolidation tools.
• Other ad‑hoc tasks related to mill activities.

Your Profile:

• A motivated individual pursuing (or planning to start) AAT, CIMA, or ACCA qualification.
• Strong numerical aptitude with a keen interest in developing a career in management accounting.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Confident using Excel and willing to learn new financial systems and tools.
• Curious, analytical, and eager to understand how financial performance drives business decisions.
• A strong communicator who can collaborate effectively across different functions.
• Proactive, reliable, and willing to take ownership of tasks while seeking guidance when needed.
• Open‑minded, adaptable, and committed to continuous improvement.

Training & Development:

• Full study support toward a relevant professional qualification (AAT / CIMA / ACCA).
• On‑the‑job coaching and mentoring from experienced finance professionals.
• Exposure to a broad range of management accounting processes.
• Opportunities to grow into a qualified Management Accountant role within the business.

What We Offer You:

• Attractive Remuneration - We offer a competitive salary.
• Pension Scheme and Life Assurance - Plan for the future with our company contributions to your pension and life assurance.
• Company Sick Pay - Your health matters, and we offer Company sick pay after a qualifying period for added security.
• Free Employee Parking - Convenient free parking for those commuting by car & Discounted EV Charging.
• Discounted Staff Sales - Access discounted hygiene paper products as part of your employee perks.
• Workplace Health Promotions - We support your wellbeing with Occupational Health services, an Employee Assistance Programme, physiotherapy, and dedicated health awareness weeks.
• Holidays & Hybrid Working: Enjoy 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays, hybrid working arrangements, and the ability to purchase up to five additional days of holiday per year.

About Us:

The WEPA Group is a future‑oriented European family business specialising in the production and distribution of sustainable hygiene paper. WEPA offers sustainable and innovative hygiene solutions that provide a safe feeling of hygiene and contribute daily to the well‑being of millions of people. With around 4,300 employees, the WEPA Group manufactures hygiene products such as toilet paper, paper towels, tissues and napkins at 14 European sites. A sustainable personnel policy has played a central role in this for more than 75 years. We consistently invest in the qualification of our employees, point out individual career and development opportunities and promote them. We are convinced of one thing: our employees are and will remain our most important success factor.