Assistant Finance Manager

Trial Balance; Exeter; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Trial Balance Consulting is recruiting for an Assistant Finance Manager near Exeter to join a family-owned manufacturing business. The role offers hands-on development with a path to Finance Manager within ~12 months, reporting to the Finance Manager and collaborating with the senior leadership team.

The position is full-time and on-site near Exeter, with responsibility for monthly management accounts, VAT/submission work, and cashflow monitoring.

Qualifications

• Grounding in day-to-day finance operations
• Ambition to progress into a Finance Manager role

Responsibilities

• Assisting the Finance Manager with the production of monthly management accounts and reporting
• Supporting the preparation of statutory information and HMRC submissions, including VAT
• Maintaining and reconciling the general ledger across multiple business entities
• Assisting with budgeting, forecasting, and cashflow monitoring
• Supporting supplier payments and monitoring aged debt
• Helping to develop KPIs and management reporting packs
• Providing day-to-day support and guidance to the Finance Apprentice
• Assisting with planned structural and operational changes within the business
• Working with internal and external stakeholders to improve finance processes and controls

Job description

Assistant Finance Manager – Near Exeter - £32k-£37k – Permanent – Full time

Trial Balance Consulting are delighted to have been exclusively engaged by a long-standing, family-owned manufacturing business to recruit an Assistant Finance Manager as part of a planned succession. This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious finance professional to join a stable organisation of around 35 employees, operating across several successful enterprises, with a clear pathway to step into the Finance Manager role within approximately 12 months.

The successful candidate will work closely alongside the current Finance Manager, receiving structured training and a full handover to support a smooth transition into the Finance Manager position. This role is ideally suited to an aspiring Finance Manager, such as an Assistant Accountant, Finance Supervisor, or Management Accountant, who is ready to broaden their responsibilities and progress into a leadership role.

This is a full time, on site position based near Exeter, working closely with the Managing Director and senior leadership team. You’ll also support a motivated Finance Apprentice, with longer term plans to further develop the finance function as the business continues to evolve.

This is a hands-on development role where responsibilities will increase over time as your knowledge of the business grows.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Assisting the Finance Manager with the production of monthly management accounts and reporting
• Supporting the preparation of statutory information and HMRC submissions, including VAT
• Maintaining and reconciling the general ledger across multiple business entities
• Assisting with budgeting, forecasting, and cashflow monitoring
• Supporting supplier payments and monitoring aged debt
• Helping to develop KPIs and management reporting packs
• Providing day to day support and guidance to the Finance Apprentice
• Assisting with planned structural and operational changes within the business
• Working with internal and external stakeholders to improve finance processes and controls

Our client is open minded on qualification level. Candidates may be fully qualified (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA), part qualified, or qualified by experience. What matters most is a strong grounding in day to day finance operations, good commercial awareness, and the ambition to progress into a Finance Manager role. Study support can be provided where relevant.

This role will suit someone who enjoys learning, responsibility, and being closely involved in the running of a small but ambitious business. If you’re looking for a genuine development opportunity with a clearly defined progression plan, this is an excellent time to join.