Finance Manager

Poundstretcher Ltd.; Leicester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Poundstretcher Ltd. in the United Kingdom seeks a Management Accountant to deliver timely management information and support the Senior Finance Manager in monthly reporting, budgeting and forecasting.

You will prepare monthly management accounts for designated cost centres, post month-end journals, and produce variance analysis with clear commentary. You will partner with stores/operations, maintain controls, and contribute to board packs while working with autonomy.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent), or qualified by experience with a strong track record.
• Previous experience in a management accounting or finance business partnering role.
• Strong Excel skills, including experience working with large datasets and building/maintaining reporting templates.
• Experience using an accounting/ERP system to produce management information.
• Confident communicator, able to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• High attention to detail and comfortable working to firm monthly deadlines.
• Able to prioritise a varied workload and use initiative to resolve issues.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts for designated cost centres / business areas, to a defined timetable.
• Post month-end journals (accruals, prepayments, provisions, depreciation) and maintain supporting schedules.
• Produce variance analysis against budget and prior year, with clear, business-friendly commentary on the drivers.
• Prepare and maintain balance sheet reconciliations for allocated accounts, resolving reconciling items promptly.
• Contribute commentary and schedules to the monthly board / senior management reporting pack.
• Support the Senior Finance Manager in producing the annual budget and periodic reforecasts for the relevant area.
• Business partner with buying, operations and store teams to explain performance and challenge cost assumptions.
• Provide ad hoc analysis and scenario modelling to support commercial and operational decisions.
• Track and report on relevant trading KPIs (e.g. margin, cost ratios, stock/wastage) for the area of responsibility.
• Maintain and evidence internal controls over transactions and balances within area of responsibility.
• Support the year-end audit, including preparation of schedules and responses to auditor queries.
• Assist with VAT, tax and other statutory returns as required, working with the wider finance team.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy of reporting.
• Where applicable, provide day-to-day guidance and review of work produced by an Assistant Accountant or Finance Assistant.
• Act as deputy to the Senior Finance Manager for routine matters during periods of absence, as required.
• Support the induction and training of new finance team members.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Excel

Education

Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent)

Tools

ERP system

Job description

The Management Accountant is responsible for producing accurate, timely management information for a defined area of the business, supporting the Senior Finance Manager in delivering monthly reporting, budgeting and forecasting, and acting as a trusted finance partner to non-finance stakeholders. The role sits one level below Senior Finance Manager and is expected to work with a good degree of autonomy, while escalating judgement calls and anything with a material impact on the numbers., Management accounts & reporting

• Prepare monthly management accounts for designated cost centres / business areas, to a defined timetable.
• Post month-end journals (accruals, prepayments, provisions, depreciation) and maintain supporting schedules.
• Produce variance analysis against budget and prior year, with clear, business-friendly commentary on the drivers.
• Prepare and maintain balance sheet reconciliations for allocated accounts, resolving reconciling items promptly.
• Contribute commentary and schedules to the monthly board / senior management reporting pack.

Budgeting, forecasting & business partnering

• Support the Senior Finance Manager in producing the annual budget and periodic reforecasts for the relevant area.
• Business partner with buying, operations and store teams to explain performance and challenge cost assumptions.
• Provide ad hoc analysis and scenario modelling to support commercial and operational decisions.
• Track and report on relevant trading KPIs (e.g. margin, cost ratios, stock/wastage) for the area of responsibility.

Controls, compliance & process

• Maintain and evidence internal controls over transactions and balances within area of responsibility.
• Support the year-end audit, including preparation of schedules and responses to auditor queries.
• Assist with VAT, tax and other statutory returns as required, working with the wider finance team.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy of reporting.

People & team

• Where applicable, provide day-to-day guidance and review of work produced by an Assistant Accountant or Finance Assistant.
• Act as deputy to the Senior Finance Manager for routine matters during periods of absence, as required.
• Support the induction and training of new finance team members.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent), or qualified by experience with a strong track record.
• Previous experience in a management accounting or finance business partnering role.
• Strong Excel skills, including experience working with large datasets and building/maintaining reporting templates.
• Experience using an accounting/ERP system to produce management information.
• Confident communicator, able to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• High attention to detail and comfortable working to firm monthly deadlines.
• Able to prioritise a varied workload and use initiative to resolve issues.

Desirable

• Experience within a retail, multi-site or FMCG environment.
• Experience supervising or reviewing the work of a junior team member.
• Exposure to stock, margin or store-level trading analysis.

Key competencies

• Analytical thinking - gets under the numbers to understand what is driving performance.
• Communication - tailors financial messages to the audience, written and verbal.
• Ownership - takes responsibility for the accuracy and timeliness of own work.
• Collaboration - builds effective working relationships across finance and the wider business.
• Continuous improvement - looks for better, more efficient ways of working.

Established in 1981 Poundstretcher is a leading variety discount retailer for quality food, toiletries, garden essentials, and home-ware brands.

Offering over 5,000 products at some of the lowest prices on the high street, Poundstretcher stores provide shoppers with an incredible selection of value for money items.

With over 400 stores nationwide across our brands, Poundstretcher stocks a huge selection of great value products at competitive prices, including cleaning supplies, kitchenware, bedding, bathroom products, furniture, electric goods, children's toys, and so much more.

We even have a wide selection of pet care products within our "Pet Hut" section.

For money-conscious grocery shoppers, Poundstretcher also offers great value prices on everyday big brand items such as food, toiletries, and household goods, along with a great range of fantastic seasonal goods. With Poundstretcher, you can be confident that you are getting the best deals, making your budget go further without sacrificing on quality or style.

Employing over 6000 people nationwide across the brand's chain of outlets, Poundstretcher aims to offer great customer service and a quality selection of products at all of our stores across the UK.