Accounting Manager

Howett Thorpe; Staines-upon-Thames; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working 2 days in the office

23 days holiday

Pension scheme

Up to 10% bonus

Job summary

Howett Thorpe is seeking an Accounting Manager to own the general ledger and strengthen financial control across its EMEA operations. The role focuses on revenue recognition, POC and balance sheet integrity, with a hands-on approach to journals and data accuracy.

You will report to the Finance Director and drive improvements in processes and reporting, including a planned transition to Microsoft Dynamics 365. Hybrid working and a competitive benefits package are offered.

Qualifications

• Strong background in financial accounting and controllership within a corporate environment.
• Hands-on ownership of the general ledger, including journal entries.
• Solid understanding of double-entry bookkeeping and financial controls.
• Experience with US GAAP and revenue recognition concepts.
• Ability to interpret data, identify discrepancies and investigate root causes.

Responsibilities

• Own the general ledger, including preparing and posting journal entries.
• Lead revenue accounting, including percentage-of-completion calculations.
• Maintain balance sheet reconciliations and investigate discrepancies through resolution.
• Account for payroll and overhead costs with accurate treatment and allocation.
• Support month-end and year-end reporting under US GAAP.
• Manage foreign currency accounting and conversions across international operations.
• Trace information from operations to accounting, filling gaps with relevant teams.
• Drive improvements to accounting processes, data flows and controls.
• Support transition from Sage to Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Skills

General Ledger Ownership

Revenue Recognition

US GAAP

Balance Sheet

Foreign Currency Accounting

Journal Entries

Process Improvement

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Sage

Job description

An international business is seeking an Accounting Manager to take ownership of its general ledger and strengthen financial control across its EMEA operations. With regional turnover of approximately £100 million, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution within a substantial corporate environment undergoing change.

The position will suit an inquisitive, technically strong accountant who enjoys understanding how transactions flow through a business, investigating discrepancies and improving the accuracy of financial reporting. You will bring a hands-on approach, with the confidence to prepare and post journals, challenge underlying information and follow issues through to resolution.

You may already be working as an Accounting Manager / Financial Controller or be a Senior Accountant ready to step into a broader role. Above all, you will be comfortable taking personal ownership of the accounts and combining technical expertise with a practical, hands-on approach.

Job Title: Accounting Manager

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Staines

Salary: £90,000-£100,000 per annum, depending on experience

Reference no: 16092

Accounting Manager - Benefits

• Hybrid working 2 days in the office
• 23 days holiday
• Pension scheme
• Up to 10% bonus

Accounting Manager - About The Role

Reporting to the Director of Finance, you will play a central role in strengthening accounting accuracy and financial control across an EMEA region. Your responsibilities will develop to include ownership of reporting for the Netherlands.

The remit centres on controllership and operational accounting, with a particular emphasis on revenue recognition and percentage-of-completion (POC) accounting. FP&A is managed separately, allowing you to focus on the integrity of the accounts, balance sheet and underlying transactions.

You will work closely with Project Managers, billing and accounts payable to understand the detail behind the numbers, challenge inconsistencies and ensure that financial information is complete, accurate and appropriately recorded. Your responsibilities will include:

• Owning the general ledger, including preparing and posting journal entries.
• Taking a leading role in revenue accounting, including percentage‑of‑completion calculations and the supporting project information.
• Maintaining robust balance sheet reconciliations and investigating discrepancies through to resolution.
• Accounting for payroll and overhead costs, ensuring accurate treatment and allocation.
• Supporting accurate month‑end and year‑end reporting in line with US GAAP requirements.
• Managing foreign currency accounting and conversions across international operations.
• Tracing information from operational activity through to its accounting treatment, identifying gaps and following up with the relevant teams.
• Challenging project, billing and accounts payable information constructively to improve accuracy and accountability.
• Driving improvements to accounting processes, financial data flows and controls.
• Supporting the planned transition from a Sage based platform to Microsoft Dynamics 365.

The successful Accounting Manager will have:

• A strong financial accounting or controllership background within a corporate environment.
• Practical experience of owning a general ledger and working directly with the underlying accounting, including preparing and posting journals.
• A thorough understanding of double‑entry bookkeeping, balance sheets and financial controls.
• US GAAP experience.
• Experience of revenue recognition and percentage‑of‑completion accounting.
• Solid knowledge of foreign currency accounting and conversions.
• The ability to interpret data, identify inconsistencies and investigate their root causes.
• Strong critical thinking, deductive reasoning and problem‑solving skills.
• The confidence and credibility to challenge stakeholders while building effective working relationships.
• An inquisitive approach, a willingness to learn and the ability to respond positively to constructive feedback.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience would be advantageous.

do not discriminate on any protected characteristics