Finance Manager

Universal Medicines; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Universal Medicines seeks a Finance Manager to lead our UK-based SME finance function. The role involves hands-on accounting with strategic financial analysis to support decision-making, reporting to the CFO and CEO, and ensuring regulatory compliance across UK and EU operations.

You will own monthly closing, VAT, payroll, and budgeting cycles, while partnering with teams to drive efficiency and control. Hybrid work is available for this position.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACCA/ACA/CIMA with 5 years of experience or qualified by experience with 7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in SME finance environments and hands-on accounting expertise.
• Knowledge of UK VAT, payroll, and statutory reporting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day financial operations and month-end close.
• Manage bank reconciliations, prepayments, accruals, and payroll journals.
• Prepare VAT returns and support year-end audit processes.

Skills

ACCA/ACA/CIMA

5+ years experience

SME finance

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Payroll processing

VAT knowledge

Xero

Cin7

Financial reporting

System improvement

Education

ACCA/ACA/CIMA qualified

Tools

Xero

Cin7

Job description

Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid (2-3 days in the office /2-3 days remote)

We are seeking a Finance Manager to join our team. As an ambitious UK-based and EU operating pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and markets medicines across the UK and Europe, we are focussed on improving long‑term access to medicines where they are needed most.

We are looking for a highly capable Finance Manager to support our small finance team and the wider business. Ideally a motivated self‑starter who will take ownership of the day‑to‑day finance function in our fast‑paced SME group. This role requires you to be organised, thorough, operations‑minded, meticulous in your attention to detail and a team player.

This role would suit someone who takes pride in getting the core elements of finance absolutely right, but who can step back and provide higher‑level financial analysis and reporting that supports decision‑making.

The Finance Manager will be a good communicator and able to prepare information clearly and concisely, ensuring the CFO and wider management team receive accurate and timely data.

We are a small team, so it's a hands‑on role that requires a proactive approach and ownership, with the ability to balance operating at both a detailed and commercially aware level.

PURPOSE

To ensure the efficient day‑to‑day running of the finance function through accurate accounting records, operational controls, and financial reporting. This role is critical to ensuring that finance systems and processes operate effectively, support business objectives, and meet all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance Operations

• Maintain and oversee all day‑to‑day financial operations.
• Manage monthly bank reconciliations, prepayment, accrual, and payroll journals; maintain the fixed asset and IP register.
• Monitor aged debtors and proactively manage credit control and debt collection activity.
• Process deferred income and ensure appropriate allocation across accounting periods.
• Ensure all balance sheet reconciliations are completed as part of the month‑end close process.
• Oversee any finance team staff on a day‑to‑day basis.
• Manage the purchase order system, ensuring compliance with internal authorisation processes.
• Produce and submit all quarterly VAT returns, UK and EU.
• Deliver accurate and timely month‑end reporting within set deadlines, ensuring completeness and integrity of data.
• Support the CFO with the preparation of management information and financial insights to support operational decisions, ensuring the CEO has the right level of MI.
• Provide ad‑hoc financial reporting and analysis as required.

Payroll Processing

• Operate the UK payroll, including all benefits and related deductions
• Ensure compliance with HMRC and pension obligations; maintain an awareness of payroll best practice.
• Prepare statutory payments (e.g. PSA and pension contributions) and ensure timely submissions.

Audit and Year End

• Prepare documentation and schedules for our annual audit, liaising with external auditors and supporting the year‑end process.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements and accounting standards.

Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Support annual business planning and budget management processes to ensure the accurate recording and monitoring of departmental budgets and forecasts.
• Provide support for sustainable growth and impact, monitoring revenue and expenditure against forecasts and identifying trends and risks.
• Prepare reports on revenue and expenditure to ensure income trends are accurately forecasted.
• Manage cash flow, ensuring potential shortages are communicated to the CFO in a timely manner.

Business Partnering and Internal Support

• Act as the finance point of contact across the organisation, supporting teams with budget tracking, invoicing, and supplier onboarding.
• Build relationships across the team to ensure strong financial awareness and support compliance with financial controls.
• Provide training or guidance on financial processes and procedures as needed.
• Identify and suggest improvements to finance systems, tools, and processes to drive efficiency and accuracy.
• Collaborate with the CFO and other teams to integrate and streamline financial workflows across platforms.
• Maintain professional development and financial knowledge to ensure best practice.
• Undertake ad‑hoc projects in support of the CFO and wider finance function.

The above does not necessarily include every responsibility, requirement, or skill associated with the role. It is intended to reflect the role currently, and the manager and role holder will revise the job description as necessary to ensure the needs of the business and its stakeholders are met.

SKILLS

• Detailed working knowledge and effective application of accounting systems, processes, policies, statutory requirements, and reporting requirements.
• Working knowledge of UK and EU VAT return workings and submissions
• Working knowledge of payroll and associated HMRC rules and regulations.
• Strong IT skills and a curiosity about how other systems integrate with and impact the finance system.
• Experience with Xero and stock system (Cin7) is desirable.
• Excellent analytical and numerical skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Track record of system improvements resulting in increased productivity.
• Qualified ACCA/ACA/CIMA with 5 years of experience or qualified by experience with 7 years of relevant experience.
• Excellent customer service, administrative, planning, and organisational skills.
• Self‑motivated, able to work on own initiative, manage upwards, and develop professionally.
• Works calmly under pressure and prioritises workload effectively to meet deadlines and urgent demands.
• Highly collaborative working style, with an ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders (internal and external), including suppliers and business partners.
• Intentional about self‑development and keeping up to date with information pertaining to accounting and business.

Due to the anticipated volume of applications, we will be in touch with candidates who are shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment process.