Assistant Accountant

Advocate Group; Halstead; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Advocate Group is partnering with a leading global FMCG manufacturer to recruit an Assistant Accountant for a key UK manufacturing site. This role offers the chance to move beyond transactional finance and become a true business partner within a fast-paced environment, working closely with Finance and Operations to support site financial performance.

You will own month-end close processes, produce financial reports and participate in budgeting, forecasting and cost analyses, helping drive

Qualifications

• Experience in an Assistant Accountant / Manufacturing Accountant / Cost Accountant role.
• Experience in a manufacturing/industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing costing and financial reporting.
• SAP experience desirable.
• Advanced Excel and ability to handle large data.
• Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Proactive with ability to build relationships across Finance and Operations.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the site's month-end reporting process, ensuring an accurate four-day close.
• Prepare financial reports, reconciliations and performance analysis.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities.
• Manage standard costing and ensure accuracy of manufacturing cost data within SAP.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, overheads and product profitability to identify trends and opportunities.
• Monitor financial and operational KPIs, investigate variances and provide meaningful insight.
• Partner with Production, Planning, HR and Operations teams to support business performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across finance and manufacturing functions.

Skills

Manufacturing costing

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Tools

SAP

Job description

About the Role

The Advocate Group is proud to be partnering with a leading global FMCG manufacturer to recruit an Assistant Accountant for one of its key UK manufacturing sites.

If you're looking for a role where you can move beyond transactional finance and become a true business partner within a fast-paced manufacturing environment, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Working closely with Finance and Operations, you'll play a key role in supporting the site's financial performance through accurate reporting, cost analysis and forecasting. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with manufacturing finance experience who enjoys getting into the detail, influencing stakeholders and making a real commercial impact.

What you'll be doing

• Taking ownership of the site's month‑end reporting process, ensuring an accurate four‑day close.
• Preparing financial reports, reconciliations and performance analysis.
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities.
• Managing standard costing and ensuring the accuracy of manufacturing cost data within SAP.
• Analysing manufacturing costs, overheads and product profitability to identify trends and opportunities.
• Monitoring financial and operational KPIs, investigating variances and providing meaningful insight.
• Partnering with Production, Planning, HR and Operations teams to support business performance and drive informed decision‑making.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the finance and manufacturing functions.

What we're looking for

• Previous experience in an Assistant Accountant, Manufacturing Accountant, Cost Accountant or similar finance role.
• Experience working within a manufacturing or industrial environment (food manufacturing experience would be advantageous).
• Strong understanding of manufacturing costing and financial reporting.
• SAP experience is highly desirable.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large volumes of financial data.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong attention to detail.
• A proactive approach and the ability to build strong relationships across both Finance and Operations.

If you're an analytical finance professional with manufacturing experience and you're looking for your next challenge within a collaborative and fast-paced environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today or get in touch with The Advocate Group for a confidential conversation.

The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer products sector. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability.