Finance Manager

Liberty Gas Group; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WPS is seeking a qualified accountant to lead a finance team supporting our Heating & Compliance division. The role combines strong technical accounting with leadership and commercial awareness, acting as a key business partner to operational and support teams.

You'll oversee a team of five, manage the month-end process, and provide meaningful financial insight across a large portfolio of contracts. This is a hands-on leadership role with real influence on business performance.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACCA/CIMA/ACA or equivalent.
• Strong leadership and team development experience.
• Proven ability to partner with operational and commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a finance team of five professionals.
• Own the month-end process and production of management accounts.
• Review journals, reconciliations, and reporting prepared by the team.
• Monitor contract profitability and ensure accurate cost/revenue allocation.
• Analyze operational and commercial performance to identify trends and risks.
• Business partner with operations, commercial teams and support functions.
• Challenge revenue/cost assumptions and suggest profitability improvements.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities.
• Maintain strong financial controls and governance across the business.
• Contribute to finance transformation projects and process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Business partnering

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Education

ACCA/CIMA/ACA or equivalent

Job description

At WPS, we are looking for an ambitious qualified accountant who combines strong technical accounting knowledge with excellent leadership and commercial awareness to lead a finance team supporting our Heating & Compliance division. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you'll manage and develop a team of five finance professionals whilst acting as a key business partner to operational, commercial and support service teams This role would suit a commercially minded accountant who thrives on challenging performance, understanding contract profitability and working closely with operational stakeholders to drive better business outcomes The Opportunity Managing a team of 1 Management Accountant and 4 Assistant Accountants, you'll oversee the production of monthly management accounts, ensure robust financial controls are in place and provide meaningful financial insight across a large portfolio of contracts You'll be responsible for analysing revenue, costs, and profitability across high-volume service contracts, helping the business understand performance drivers, identify risks and capitalise on opportunities,

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of finance professionals, including supporting part-qualified team members through their professional development
• Own the month-end process and production of accurate management accounts
• Review and approve journals, reconciliations, and financial reporting prepared by the wider finance team
• Monitor contract profitability, ensuring costs and revenue are accurately allocated and reported
• Analyse operational and commercial performance, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities
• Business partner with operational managers, commercial teams, and support functions to drive performance improvements
• Challenge revenue and cost assumptions and provide recommendations to improve profitability
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities
• Ensure strong financial controls and governance are maintained across the business
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and finance transformation projects, This is an opportunity to join a growing business where finance plays a central role in commercial decision-making. You'll have genuine influence, lead an established team, work closely with senior stakeholders, and make a visible impact on business performance
  Are you a qualified accountant who enjoys looking beyond the numbers to understand what drives business performance?, You will be a qualified accountant (ACCA,CIMA, ACA or equivalent) who combines strong technical accounting knowledge with excellent leadership and commercial awareness, ? Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent)

? Significant experience within a Finance Manager, Management Accountant, or similar leadership role ? Experience managing and developing finance teams ? Strong month-end reporting and management accounts experience ? Excellent stakeholder management and business partnering skills ? Experience analysing profitability, revenue, and costs within a commercial environment ? Ability to influence, challenge, and support operational decision-making ? Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

We Particularly Like To Hear From Candidates With Experience In

• Contract-led businesses
• Facilities Management
• Property Services
• Construction
• Social Housing
• Engineering or Compliance Services
• High-volume service delivery environments

Part-qualified candidates nearing completion of ACCA, CIMA, or ACA studies may also be considered where supported by substantial relevant management experience