Finance Business Partner

WH Scott; West of England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary

Bonus

Study support

Study leave

Career progression

Immediate start

Job summary

W.H Scott & Son (Engineers) Ltd is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join our growing UK finance team in Wickwar. You will provide timely financial information and insights to support commercial decision‑making across group companies, including Re‑Ropes.

The role offers full study support toward professional qualification, a clear development path, and a busy, hands‑on environment with exposure to management and project accounting as the business scales.

Qualifications

• Part-qualified accountant actively studying towards full qualification (CIMA/ACCA/ACA).
• Solid experience in management accounting, preferably in engineering, construction, manufacturing or project-based environment.
• Strong understanding of balance sheet reconciliations and month-end processes.
• Confident Excel skills and familiarity with accounting/ERP systems.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Proactive, hands-on approach and ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Support the production of monthly management accounts, including accruals, prepayments and journal preparation.
• Project accounting: tracking project costs, revenue recognition, margin analysis and reporting on project performance.
• Preparation and ownership of balance sheet reconciliations, investigating and resolving reconciling items.
• Support the month-end close process, ensuring deadlines are met and reporting packs are delivered on time.
• Assist with variance analysis against budget and forecast, providing commentary for management.
• Business partner with operational and project teams to improve financial understanding and cost control.
• Support continuous improvement of finance processes, controls and systems as the business scales.
• Support month-end, reconciliations and reporting for other UK group companies, including Re-Ropes.
• Assist with year-end audit preparation and ad hoc analysis as required.

Skills

Management accounting

Balance sheet reconciliations

Excel

ERP systems

Attention to detail

Clear communication

Education

Part-qualified accountant (CIMA / ACCA / ACA) actively studying towards full qualification

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Claude AI tools

Job description

About Us

W.H Scott & Son (Engineers) Ltd is a well-established and rapidly growing engineering business. With current revenues of £20m and a clear trajectory to reach £45m by 2027, we are entering an exciting phase of expansion. To support this growth, we are strengthening our finance function and are looking for an ambitious Finance Business Partner to join our team in Wickwar. This is a genuine opportunity to grow with the business – you will gain broad exposure across management and project accounting while working closely with senior finance leadership, with full study support to complete your professional qualification.

The Role

Working as part of the wider UK finance team, and alongside and supporting the UK Finance Controller, you will play a key role in the production of timely, accurate financial information and in providing insight that supports commercial decision‑making. The role spans not only W.H Scott & Son (Engineers) Ltd but also other UK group companies, including Re‑Ropes, giving you genuine breadth of exposure across the group.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the production of monthly management accounts, including accruals, prepayments and journal preparation
• Project accounting: tracking project costs, revenue recognition, margin analysis and reporting on project performance
• Preparation and ownership of balance sheet reconciliations, investigating and resolving reconciling items
• Support the month‑end close process, ensuring deadlines are met and reporting packs are delivered on time
• Assist with variance analysis against budget and forecast, providing commentary for management
• Business partner with operational and project teams to improve financial understanding and cost control
• Support continuous improvement of finance processes, controls and systems as the business scales
• Support month‑end, reconciliations and reporting for other UK group companies, including Re‑Ropes
• Assist with year‑end audit preparation and ad hoc analysis as required

About You

Essential

• Part‑qualified accountant (CIMA / ACCA / ACA) actively studying towards full qualification
• Solid experience in management accounting, ideally within an engineering, construction, manufacturing or project‑based environment
• Strong understanding of balance sheet reconciliations and month‑end processes
• Confident Excel skills and comfortable working with accounting/ERP systems
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to work to deadlines
• A proactive, hands‑on approach and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non‑finance colleagues

Desirable

• Experience of project accounting and work‑in‑progress (WIP) reporting
• Experience in a fast‑growing SME environment
• Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or similar ERP systems
• Knowledge of, or interest in, using AI tools such as Claude to support finance processes and analysis

What We Offer

• Salary of £45,000 - £50,000, dependent on experience
• Discretionary bonus of up to 10%, linked to performance against targets
• Full study support package including paid study leave and course/exam fees (subject to a 3‑year study agreement / repayment clause)
• Clear development path within a finance team supporting a business more than doubling in size by 2027
• Immediate start available

W.H Scott & Son (Engineers) Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.