Accounting Leader (9-12 Months FTC)

VH Talent Limited; Loughborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Generous employer pension

Early finish on Fridays

Life assurance and income protection

Employee assistance programme

Employee discounts and lifestyle perks

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

VH Talent is supporting an international engineering and manufacturing business in Loughborough to recruit an experienced Accounting Leader. This role drives financial reporting, governance, and robust controls across the finance function, influencing decisions and ensuring accuracy of complex data.

You will mentor the team, optimise processes, and partner with stakeholders to improve performance and support the ERP system.

Qualifications

• A degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline.
• ACCA/CIMA or equivalent advantageous.
• Significant experience in financial accounting within manufacturing/engineering.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, GL, reconciliations and month-end processes.
• Understanding of UK/US GAAP and IFRS, with robust financial controls.

Responsibilities

• Oversee monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting for accuracy and compliance.
• Manage general ledger activities, balance sheet reconciliations and journal entries.
• Analyze performance, investigate variances and provide actionable insights for management.
• Prepare and review P&L, balance sheets, cash flow forecasts and working capital reports.
• Collaborate with managers on budgeting, forecasting and cost management.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication to non-finance

Leadership and mentoring

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Accounting or Finance

ACCA/CIMA or equivalent advantageous

Tools

ERP/financial management systems

Advanced Excel

Job description

Title: Accounting Leader (9-12 Months FTC)

Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 per annum

Working Hours: Monday–Friday, Day Shift

Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire

VH Talent is delighted to be supporting an international engineering and manufacturing business to recruit an experienced Accounting Leader to join its finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified or part-qualified accounting professional with strong technical knowledge and leadership capabilities to take ownership of key financial accounting activities within a complex manufacturing environment.

Reporting into senior management, you will play a key role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial information, overseeing reporting processes, maintaining robust financial controls and providing meaningful commercial insight to support business performance. The successful candidate will combine strong accounting expertise with the ability to influence stakeholders, improve processes and support the development of the wider finance function.

Quick snapshot of the Accounting Leader (9-12 Months FTC) role:

• Oversee the preparation and delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant accounting standards.
• Take ownership of general ledger activities, complex balance sheet reconciliations and the review and approval of journal entries.
• Analyse financial performance, investigate variances and provide meaningful reporting and insight to support management decision-making.
• Prepare and review key financial information, including P&L reports, balance sheets, cash flow forecasts, working capital reports and supporting schedules.
• Work closely with operational and departmental managers to support budgeting, forecasting, cost management and financial performance improvement.
• Ensure effective financial controls and accounting procedures are maintained, supporting internal and external audits.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, reporting accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Support the ongoing management and development of the company's financial ERP system, working alongside external system support providers.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and act as a key point of contact for finance-related queries across the business.
• Mentor and support colleagues within the finance team, encouraging development and best practice.

The Accounting Leader will need:

• A degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• A professional accounting qualification such as ACCA, CIMA or equivalent would be advantageous.
• Significant experience in a financial accounting role, ideally within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of financial reporting, general ledger accounting, reconciliations and month-end processes.
• A good understanding of accounting standards, including UK/US GAAP and IFRS, alongside financial controls and compliance.
• Experience overseeing or supporting financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Strong Excel skills and experience using ERP or financial management systems.
• Previous experience supervising, mentoring or developing finance team members.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to communicate financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines.

The Accounting Leader benefits:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Generous employer pension contributions.
• Early finish on Fridays, subject to business requirements.
• Life assurance and income protection.
• Employee assistance programme supporting health and wellbeing.
• Access to a range of employee discounts and lifestyle benefits.
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development and career progression.
• Employee resource groups and volunteering opportunities.
• The opportunity to join an established international business operating within a technically advanced engineering and manufacturing sector.