Finance Accounting Manager in Watford

Join the Wickes Group Financial Control and Reporting Team. At Wickes, we’re not just about building materials; we’re about building careers. We’re currently looking for a Newly Qualified Finance Manager to join our team on a permanent basis. If you are a talented, ambitious accountant who wants to move beyond the theory and get stuck into the heart of a fast-paced retail business, this is your opportunity to make a tangible impact.

Role Purpose: You’ll be joining our Group Financial Control and Reporting team, a group that values accuracy, integrity, and proactive problem-solving. Your work will provide the financial clarity we need to make informed decisions that shape the future of our business. You won’t just be ticking boxes; you’ll be ensuring our reporting is precise, compliant, and insightful.

What you’ll be doing:

• Driving Reporting Excellence: You’ll lead the preparation of our period-end financial accounting entries (covering payroll, insurance, share-based payments, and cash flow), ensuring our results are accurately presented.
• Maintaining Financial Control: You will be the guardian of our General Ledger (GL) integrity and oversee the balance sheet completion process, ensuring our foundations are solid.
• External Reporting: You will lead the preparation of complex sections of our external financial statements for half-year and year-end reporting, ensuring we remain fully compliant with IFRS and FRS 102.
• Audit Liaison: Acting as a primary point of contact for external auditors, you’ll coordinate our internal deliverables and support the Group Technical Accounting Manager, ensuring a smooth audit process.
• Consolidation & Compliance: You’ll oversee intercompany transactions and investments during period-end closures, and manage our statutory compliance tasks, including subsidiary accounts and ONS surveys.
• Building Partnerships: You’ll connect with the wider Finance team (Tax, FP&A) and business stakeholders to provide accounting insights that directly support our business goals.
• Continuous Improvement: We don’t stand still, and neither do you. You’ll constantly look for ways to make our financial reporting processes slicker, smarter, and more efficient.

What we’re looking for:

• Qualification: You are a Qualified Accountant (ACA or ACCA) looking for the next step in your career.
• Experience: You bring a broad background in finance, specifically with period-end processes and financial statement preparation.
• Technical Savvy: You are comfortable working with IFRS, have a high degree of financial literacy, and are proficient in MS Office and Google Sheets.
• The "Wickes" Mindset: We’re looking for a team player with a "can-do" attitude. You’re proactive, flexible, and thrive in a fast-paced environment where you can bring passion to your work.
• Communication Skills: You can present complex financial information clearly and build strong relationships across the business.
• Detail-Oriented: You have an analytical approach, a sharp eye for detail, and a real knack for problem-solving.
• (Bonus): An awareness of the specific accounting challenges within the retail sector or experience within a Group financial reporting function would be a fantastic advantage.

What can we offer you? You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us. We also have an early careers network to support you if you’re in your first few years of your career. We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:

• Competitive Annual bonus
• Hybrid Working
• Private Medical and Life Assurance
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme

Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support. By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you, we are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day.

About Us: Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues. But it is our culture that is considered our best kept secret; it’s a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.

Please contact us here if you require any adjustments within the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage you will have an opportunity to inform us when we invite you to interview. Please note, this link is only for reasonable adjustments required - general enquiries, or direct CV applications cannot be accepted via this form.