Finance Manager

Arddun Agency; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Arddun Agency is seeking a Finance Manager to oversee month-end close and preparation of management accounts, reconciliations and variance analysis. You will manage commission processes, payroll, staff finance workflows and cost recharges, while maintaining strong financial controls.

You will line manage the Finance Assistant, collaborate with internal teams and external accountants, and drive improvements to finance processes and systems in a fast-paced agency environment.

Qualifications

• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA or CIMA), or equivalent experience.
• Experience producing management accounts with clear variance commentary.
• Experience managing or supervising at least one team member.
• Strong Excel skills and experience with Xero
• Knowledge of Pleo and Dext desirable.
• Experience in SME finance environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee month-end close and prepare management accounts with variance commentary.
• Reconcile balance sheets including bank, debtors, creditors and payroll.
• Manage commission processes and recharges with internal teams and external accountants.
• Oversee payroll processing and bonus calculations.
• Line-manage the Finance Assistant and drive process improvements.
• Support VAT returns and statutory submissions with external partners.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Team supervision

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Organisational skills

Adaptability

Reliability

Communication

SME experience

Education

ACCA/ACA/CIMA

Tools

Xero

Pleo

Dext

Job description

Who We Are

We’re Arddun, a fast-paced and growing wholesale fashion and brand agency founded in London in 2019 with an HQ in Islington and NYC, as well as showrooms in Paris and Milan.

We work with great brands to help them flourish in the world’s best retailers, and our excellent team do this through balancing insight and instinct, empathy and care to provide unmatched service to our partners.

We have expert teams across Wholesale, Retail, PR, Design and Merchandising, and Data as well as Operations and Finance enabling us to offer a true 360 approach and provide an environment where our ambitious team can thrive.

About the role

The Finance Manager is responsible for overseeing the month-end close and preparation of management accounts, reconciliations and variance analysis. The role manages commission processes, payroll, staff finance processes and cost recharges, while maintaining financial controls and supporting statutory compliance. It also involves line managing the Finance Assistant, collaborating with internal teams and external accountants, and driving improvements to finance processes and systems.

How you’ll contribute

Month-end close and management accounts

• Own the month-end close timetable and deliver to agreed deadlines each month.
• Prepare journals, accruals, prepayments, accrued income, deferred income and fixed asset entries.
• Perform and review balance sheet reconciliations, including bank, debtors, creditors, payroll and intercompany.
• Produce the first draft of the monthly management accounts with variance commentary against budget and prior periods, for review by the Head of Finance.
• Work with the Finance Assistant to maintain the Aged Debtors report.
• Monitor seasonal showroom income and costs providing commentary. Work with the Finance Assistant to ensure showroom invoices have been raised accurately and are paid in a timely manner.
• Work with the US accountants to ensure an efficient month end close.

Commission reconciliations

• Review and reconcile monthly commission statements from Brands, investigate discrepancies and ensure accurate invoicing.
• Business partner with sales team to ensure information is recorded accurately efficiently.
• Review seasonal commissions against accruals.
• Propose improvements to the commission process and controls.

Staff finance processes

• Be responsible for ensuring company policies are adhered to for example the Staff Clothing Allowance and Staff Travel
• Ensure timely and accurate invoicing of staff personal orders.
• Oversee payroll processing, working with our payroll provider and reviewing payroll journals and reconciliations.
• Support the Head of Finance with bonus calculations.

Recharges

• Work with the Finance Assistant to ensure the shipping recharges are accurately invoiced.
• Work with the Design team to ensure Events costs are paid in a timely manner and recharged accurately.
• Work with the Concessions team to ensure monthly concession recharges are raised accurately.

Team management

• Line manage the Finance Assistant, setting priorities, reviewing work, coaching and supporting study and development.

Controls and compliance

• Work with the out sourced finance team to help support VAT returns and other statutory submissions.
• Help maintain a sound control environment, including segregation of duties and approval workflows.
• Support finance systems improvements and automation as the business grows.

What you’ll bring:

• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA or CIMA), or equivalent experience.
• Experience producing management accounts with clear variance commentary.
• Experience managing or supervising at least one team member.
• Strong Excel skills and experience with Xero
• Knowledge of Pleo and Dext desirable
• Be reliable, thorough, with excellent attention to detail
• Be flexible and adaptable to changing demands and a fast-paced environment
• Be committed to excellence
• Highly personable team player
• Have strong problem solving and organisational skills and be able prioritise own tasks and deadlines effectively
• Experience of working in an SME within a small finance team preferable