Finance Manager

Westwood Recruitment; Essex; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Westwood Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of a growing specialist compliance business based in Southend-on-Sea. The Finance Manager will take ownership of the day-to-day finance function and lead a small accounts team, delivering timely management information and strong financial controls.

You will oversee ledgers, payroll, VAT returns and year-end with external accountants, while identifying cost-saving opportunities and driving improvements across the finance function.

Qualifications

• AAT Level 3+ or equivalent accounting qualification is preferred.
• Minimum 2 years experience in a finance/accounts role.
• Experience producing management accounts.
• Strong knowledge of reconciliations, VAT and payroll.
• Experience using Xero or comparable finance software.
• Strong Excel skills and MS Office proficiency.
• Experience supervising or managing a small accounts team.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong financial judgement.
• Practical, organised and solutions-focused mentality.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support and develop a small accounts team.
• Produce monthly management accounts and explain key findings to senior management.
• Maintain ledgers and complete bank, VAT, payroll and asset reconciliations.
• Manage cash flow, payment runs and authorise payments.
• Process monthly payroll including commissions, deductions, pensions and staff loans.
• Prepare VAT and other HMRC returns.
• Oversee invoicing, expenses and supplier payments.
• Work with external accountants on year-end and audits.
• Review supplier contracts and identify cost-control opportunities.
• Ensure finance processes and procedures are followed consistently.

Skills

Management accounts

Payroll knowledge

VAT knowledge

Reconciliations

Xero

Excel

Team supervision

Attention to detail

Organised and solutions-focused

Education

AAT Level 3+ or accounting qualification

Tools

Xero

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Finance Manager

£38,000 - £45,000 Southend-on-Sea Office Based

We re recruiting on behalf of an established and growing specialist compliance business based in Southend-on-Sea. The business provides specialist services across air and water hygiene, ventilation, kitchen extract fire safety and wider building compliance, working with clients across a range of sectors throughout the UK.

They are now looking for a practical and dependable Finance Manager to take ownership of their day-to-day finance function and lead a small accounts team.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys being involved across the full finance function, while also having the opportunity to improve processes, maintain strong financial controls and provide useful financial insight to senior management.

The Role

As Finance Manager, you ll be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day finance function and supporting the wider business with accurate and timely financial information.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, supporting and developing a small accounts team


• Producing monthly management accounts and explaining key findings to senior management


• Maintaining accurate ledgers and completing bank, credit card, balance sheet, WIP, accrual, prepayment and fixed asset reconciliations


• Managing cash flow, payment runs and authorising payments


• Processing monthly payroll, including commissions, deductions, pensions and staff loans


• Preparing and submitting VAT and other HMRC returns


• Overseeing invoicing, expenses and supplier payments


• Working with external accountants on year-end and audit requirements


• Reviewing supplier contracts and identifying opportunities to control costs


• Ensuring finance processes and procedures are followed consistently

About You

We re looking for someone with solid practical finance experience who is comfortable taking ownership of a busy finance function.

You ll ideally have:

• AAT Level 3 or above, or another relevant accounting qualification


• At least 2 years experience in a finance/accounts role


• Experience producing management accounts


• Strong knowledge of reconciliations, VAT and payroll
  
• Experience using Xero or a comparable finance system


• Strong Excel skills and confidence using Microsoft Office


• Previous experience supervising or managing a small accounts team


• Excellent attention to detail and strong financial judgement


• A practical, organised and solutions-focused approach

This is an office-based position in Southend-on-Sea, offering the opportunity to take real ownership of the finance function within an established specialist business.