Finance Analyst

Appleyard Lees & Co; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave

Salary review

Healthcare plan

Life assurance

Job summary

Appleyard Lees & Co is hiring a hands-on Finance Analyst to join the Finance team in Manchester or Halifax. You’ll handle billing systems, deliver regular WIP, debtor and revenue reports, and support budgeting and forecasting.

The role emphasizes system/problem solving, accurate reporting and strong controls during month end. You will work under the Finance Manager to improve management information, with a focus on faster month ends and better reporting.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years’ relevant finance experience.
• Strong Excel skills with large data sets.
• Comfortable with finance systems and investigating issues.
• Experience with reconciliations and month-end accounting.
• Understanding of WIP, billing, debtors and revenue.
• Ability to produce, manipulate and present financial reports.
• Strong problem-solving and attention to detail.
• Confidence communicating with non-finance colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Billing and systems support: resolve queries and improve processes.
• Reporting and analysis: WIP, debtor, revenue reports and ad hoc analysis.
• Accounting and month end: reconciliations and journals; maintain records.
• Projects and improvement: automate reporting and embed controls.

Skills

Excel

Reporting

Data analysis

Reconciliations

Month-end

Problem solving

Communication

Billing systems

WIP knowledge

Revenue reporting

Education

AAT qualification

CIMA

ACCA

Tools

Safe Intacct

Equinox

Power BI

SharePoint

Job description

Finance Analyst

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Manchester

Description

Do you enjoy getting to the bottom of a problem? We are looking for a hands‑on Finance Analyst to join our Finance team. You’ll combine systems problem-solving with accurate reporting and core accounting, keeping billing running smoothly and making our management information clear and reliable.

In a typical week, you might be asked:

• “This bill isn’t working; find out why” You’ll go into the system, trace the data and the process, work out what’s wrong and fix it or explain what needs to happen
• “Here’s the bank account; reconcile it.”
• “Here’s the WIP and debtors’ data; turn it into a useful report.”

That mix of systems curiosity, reporting skills and accounting accuracy matters more to us than any particular qualification.

You will report to the Finance Manager and join a team focused on a faster month end, stronger controls and better management information. This role can be based at our Halifax or Manchester offices.

Key Responsibilities

• Billing and systems support: resolve billing queries and system/data issues, working with billers, fee earners and support teams to improve billing processes and system use
• Reporting and analysis: produce regular WIP, debtor, revenue and billing reports; deliver ad hoc analysis for the Finance Director/Finance Manager; support budgeting, forecasting and management information
• Accounting and month end: carry out bank and balance sheet reconciliations, assist with month end journals and management accounts, and maintain accurate financial records and schedules
• Projects and improvement: support finance projects and system/process changes, helping to automate reporting and embed new processes and controls

Our Systems:

Safe Intacct (general ledger), Equinox (practice management, time recording and billing), Excel and SharePoint. We are also introducing Power BI for WIP and debt reporting.

What you will need:

• 2–5 years’ relevant finance experience
• Strong Excel skills, including working with large data sets
• Comfortable working with finance systems and investigating system/data issues
• Experience of reconciliations and month-end accounting
• An understanding of WIP, billing, debtors and revenue
• The ability to produce, manipulate and present financial reports
• Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail
• Confidence communicating with non-finance colleagues, including fee earners

It would be great if you also have:

• AAT qualification, or part-qualified CIMA or ACCA
• Professional services experience, including time‑based billing and WIP
• Experience of Safe Intacct or a similar ERP system
• Experience of Equinox or another practice management or time and billing system
• Experience of Power BI or similar reporting tools
• Budgeting and forecasting experience

Benefits

We pride ourselves on being small and friendly enough for you to get to know everyone – but big enough to offer you great career prospects. At Appleyard Lees, you won’t feel like a number or just another cog in the wheel. We understand everyone is individual and offer a friendly and supportive place to work and learn.

We also offer:

• 34 hour working week, Monday – Friday
• Hybrid working
• A supportive and friendly place to work and learn
• Annual salary review
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Salary Exchange
• Life assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan & Wellbeing App
• Group Income Protection
• Long Service Milestones
• Social outings
• Vouchers on Christmas, birthdays and special occasions
• Charity events