Central Finance and Payroll Manager

Lookers; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive retailer in Gateshead seeks an experienced Central Finance and Payroll Manager. The role involves financial oversight, compliance, and team leadership in a hybrid working environment. Competitive salary and benefits, including a car allowance, are offered. The ideal candidate will be a fully qualified accountant with strong financial reporting and leadership skills.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

Generous annual leave

Enhanced family leave

Access to discounted technology purchases

Eyecare vouchers

Dental insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant with experience in financial reporting and balance sheet control.
• Proven experience in leading and developing finance teams.
• Advanced ability to interpret financial data and provide actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Maintain financial controls and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Oversee budgeting and forecasting processes.

Skills

Financial reporting

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Excel proficiency

Education

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

Financial systems and ERP platforms

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Central Finance and Payroll Manager
Location: Hybrid role with travel
Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 per annum (Depending on Experience) with a £6,000 Car Allowance or Company Car
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

As Finance and Payroll Manager for Lookers Central Support you will be responsible for ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting and compliance across the Central Support function.

This role maintains the integrity of financial data, oversees budgeting and forecasting processes and ensures adherence to internal controls and regulatory requirements. Acting as a key partner to central support teams the role provides timely financial insights to support decision making and cost management. Additionally, the position drives process efficiency, strengthens governance and supports the delivery of group financial objectives.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of monthly management accounts and financial reports for Central Support.
• Maintain robust financial controls and ensure compliance with internal policies, statutory regulations, and audit requirements.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis processes, providing clear insights to support decision-making.
• Monitor and manage Central Support cost centres, ensuring effective cost control and value for money.
• Partner with Central Support leadership teams to provide financial guidance and challenge on performance and expenditure.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial data within all systems and processes.
• Lead the month-end and year-end close processes for Central Support, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Maintain strong balance sheet control, including reconciliations, review of key accounts, and resolution of discrepancies.
• Support the preparation of statutory accounts and liaise with external auditors as required.
• Provide financial oversight for project reporting and accounting, ensuring accurate tracking of costs and benefits, compliance with governance requirements, and effective review of outputs prepared by the team.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and governance.
• Lead, mentor, and develop team members.
• Provide ad-hoc financial analysis and reporting to support business initiatives and strategic projects.
• Oversight of monthly payroll
• Strategic payroll initiatives

Qualifications

Key Skills & Experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, balance sheet control and internal controls.
• Proven experience in leading and developing finance teams.
• Advanced ability to interpret financial data and provide actionable insights.
• Proficiency in financial systems and ERP platforms, with strong Excel skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to challenge and influence senior leaders.

About us

We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing over 30 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland.

We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we're committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That's why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.

Core Benefits:

• Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression as you grow within the business
• Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service
• Enhanced family leave, including 6 months' full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeks' full pay for paternity leave
• Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments

Health & Wellbeing:

• Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs
• Smart Health - 24/7 access to GP services to support your mental and physical wellbeing
• Dental insurance for everyday dental care and unexpected treatments
• Critical illness cover for peace of mind during life's most challenging moments

Financial Wellbeing:

• MyView PayNow - access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a user-friendly app
• Will writing services to help plan for the future
• Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection

Leisure & Lifestyle:

• Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle
• Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence
• Access to home and technology vouchers
• bYond card and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts

We strongly believe in nurturing and providing our people with specific manufacturer brand and management training to enhance career development opportunities. We have a great bunch of people, and we like to celebrate and encourage success at all levels.

Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.

If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history and a standard criminal record check. For roles that require you to drive, a driving licence check will also be carried out. Please note, all offers of employment are made subject to a 6 month probation period commencing from your start date.

Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.