Assistant Accountant

IPL Schoeller; Ridgacre; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Logtek Ltd, part of the IPL Schoeller Group, seeks an Assistant Accountant to manage monthly accounts, oversee cashflow, and drive reporting improvements. You will work with senior Finance, Operations and Data Analytics teams to automate processes and deliver insights.

The role focuses on profitability reporting for Logtek’s rental and wash customers, including the Marks & Spencer partnership, with hybrid working from the Birmingham head office and home days.

Qualifications

• AAT qualification or pursuing CIMA/ACCA
• Experience with large/medium ERP systems
• High-level Excel skills
• Strong communication with finance stakeholders
• Self-starter, able to work under pressure and prioritise

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain monthly accounts aligned with revenues and oversee weekly cashflow and reporting
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders in Finance, Operations and Data Analytics to drive automation of reporting
• Report on Logtek's rental and wash customers and the Marks & Spencer partnership to understand activity-level profitability
• Maintain rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts and report via Coupa treasury platform
• Maintain bank reconciliations and act as authorised signatory on accounts
• Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations and maintain controls including accruals, prepayments and fixed assets
• Liaise with auditors for statutory accounts and tax provisioning; provide analysis to business partners
• Prepare VAT returns for HMRC under Making Tax Digital; identify risks and opportunities for variance insights
• Support Regional Business Controller with monthly reporting and ad-hoc finance duties

Skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Organisation

Problem solving

Proactive

Education

AAT qualification / Early stage of CIMA / ACCA studies

Tools

ERP system experience

Excel

Job description

Who We Are

On July 1, 2025, IPL Plastics merged with Schoeller Allibert to form IPL Schoeller (the 'company'). The Company's operations are split across North America (11 manufacturing plants) and Europe (16 manufacturing plants).

The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. IPL Schoeller is a leading manufacturer of sustainable rigid packaging solutions across a range of end market segments including returnable transit packaging, consumer and industrial packaging, environmental containers and agricultural packaging. The company employs c.4,100 employees across North America (1,600 employees) and Europe (2,500 employees.)

Logtek

Logtek Ltd, part of the IPL Schoeller Group, is a UK-based equipment logistics and operational services company established in 1996. We specialise in the control and management of returnable transit packaging (RTP), supporting some of the UK's leading retail and supply chain networks.

• Return logistics facilities
• Hygienic tray washing through industrial processing facilities
• RTP rental services
• Equipment repair and maintenance
• Asset management solutions powered by innovative technology and data analytics

The role

You will be responsible for preparing the monthly accounts of the company, in-line with the various revenues of the business. The role will oversee the weekly cashflow and reporting, analysing data, and suggesting best practice for controlling cost.

The successful candidate will collaborate with senior stakeholders in Finance, Operations and our data analytics team to drive continuous improvement, automate reporting processes and deliver measurable business benefits.

A key aspect of the role will reporting on Logtek's various rental and wash customers as well as its long-standing partnership with Marks & Spencer, ensuring project profitability at an activity level is understood and reported to the wider business.

We offer a flexible hybrid working arrangement that combines the benefits of collaboration in the office with the convenience of home working. The role is based at our Head Office in Quinton, Birmingham, with office attendance on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and the opportunity to work from home on Monday and Friday. Working hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm, with a one-hour lunch break each day.

Due to the location of our Head Office and limited public transport links, a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential requirements for this role.

As an Assistant Accountant at Logtek Ltd (part of IPL Schoeller) you will:

• Promote robust financial and cost control, with particular emphasis on labour reporting and overhead allocation.
• Prepare and maintain rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts, with reporting through the Coupa treasury platform.
• Maintain full reconciliations of company bank accounts and act as one of the primary authorised signatories.
• Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations and maintain effective balance sheet control, including accruals, prepayments, deferred income and fixed assets.
• Perform monthly reconciliation and calculation of contractual revenues, including revenues accounted for on an agent basis.
• Maintain appropriate financial controls within the IFS accounting and reporting system.
• Maintain effective control over purchase orders and associated financial processes.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors to support the completion of statutory accounts and tax provisioning.
• Provide financial support and analysis to meet the reporting requirements of business partners.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns to HMRC in accordance with Making Tax Digital requirements.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities within the business, providing clear insight and support in understanding key variances.
• Analyse and reconcile actual results against budget for inclusion in monthly management reporting packs.
• Support the Regional Business Controller through the provision of analysis, management information and monthly reporting.
• Undertake other ad-hoc finance duties and provide appropriate cover for the Regional Business Controller as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• AAT qualified /Early stage of CIMA / ACCA studies
• Good large / medium ERP system experience
• High level of Excel experience
• Ability to communicate effectively with external and internal members of finance dept's.
• A self-starter, ability to take initiative, work well under pressure and manage key priorities.
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
• Focus on achieving tight reporting deadlines
• Ideally supply chain logistics or manufacturing experience together with a strong transactional background
• Improvement orientation
• Strong critical-thinking skills, with the confidence to challenge and validate information appropriately
• Highly organised and efficient, with the ability to prioritise competing demands effectively
• Proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Strong data-handling and interrogation skills
• Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate financial information effectively