Finance Manager - Gross Margin

Travel Counsellors Limited; Urmston; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Flexible hybrid working

Career development opportunities

Pension scheme

Private Medical Insurance or Health"

Job summary

Travel Counsellors Limited is seeking a Finance Manager – Gross Margin to own UK gross margin reporting, ensure data integrity, and lead month-end close. You will manage two Management Accountants and collaborate with the Commercial team to deliver timely insights.

You will coordinate VAT, TOMS, ATOL regulatory submissions, strengthen controls and drive system/process improvements in a hybrid UK office model.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong management accounting and financial control experience.
• Experience with balance sheet reconciliations, month-end close and P&L analysis.
• Experience preparing or reviewing VAT, TOMS, ATOL or other regulatory returns.
• Proficient in advanced Excel and data manipulation.
• Experience managing finance colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Own UK gross margin reporting and related controls.
• Lead month-end close for gross margin accounts.
• Reconcile Admin Studio to D365 and manage balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare VAT, TOMS, ATOL, MDRP submissions with robust controls.
• Coordinate external audits for gross margin balances.
• Manage and develop two Management Accountants.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and commercial analysis with insights.

Skills

Advanced Excel

P&L analysis to gross margin

Management accounting

Balance sheet reconciliations

Regulatory returns experience

People management

Education

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

Admin Studio

D365 / Dynamics 365

Job description

About Us

At Travel Counsellors, our customers, communities, and colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. For over 30 years, we've empowered 2,200+ independent travel agents worldwide, helping them build successful businesses while providing deeply personal, human connections with their customers. Supported by a talented team of over 400 people in our Support Offices, we create unique travel experiences that keep customers coming back. Named the Best Place to Work in Travel (2022) and ranked in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work (2023, 2024 & 2025), we’re expanding rapidly and looking for exceptional individuals to join our Head Office team.

About the Role

As Finance Manager – Gross Margin, you will take ownership of the integrity, completeness and timeliness of UK gross margin reporting and associated financial controls. You will lead the month-end close for gross margin accounts, ensure accurate reconciliation between Admin Studio and D365, deliver reliable management information and regulatory submissions, and provide commercially relevant insight to the Commercial team.

You will manage two Management Accountants and help foster a strong control environment, robust audit evidence and a culture of continuous improvement across systems, processes and data quality.

Principal Accountabilities

• Own accurate, complete and timely UK gross margin reporting, including analysis of key movements and review of Management Accountant journals.
• Ensure Admin Studio transactions reconcile accurately to D365 and oversee balance sheet reconciliations, transaction clearing and resolution of aged items.
• Prepare VAT, TOMS, ATOL, rebates and MDRP submissions, maintaining robust controls, clear documentation and complete audit evidence.
• Coordinate external audit requirements for gross margin and related balances.
• Manage, coach and develop two Management Accountants, ensuring effective workload allocation and resilient delivery across month-end and regulatory processes.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and commercial analysis by translating gross margin performance into practical insight and actions.
• Drive improvements in systems, data quality and processes by identifying root causes, strengthening controls and implementing sustainable solutions.

Required Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong management accounting and financial control experience in a high-volume environment.
• Demonstrable experience of balance sheet reconciliations, month-end close and P&L analysis to gross margin.
• Experience preparing or reviewing VAT, TOMS, ATOL or other regulatory returns.
• Advanced Excel and data manipulation skills;
• Experience managing and developing finance colleagues.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary + annual bonus
• Flexible hybrid working
• Career development opportunities
• 25 days holiday (increasing to 28 after 5 years)
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity pay
• 1 day paid charity day
• Company events and incentives
• 3x salary death in service benefit
• Pension scheme
• Private Medical Insurance or Healthcare Cash Plan
• Free breakfast and beverages

Inclusive Recruitment at Travel Counsellors

Travel Counsellors is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, or any protected characteristic. We provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and will make every effort to accommodate reasonable adjustments where required. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our team and encourage all to apply.