Financial Accountant

SPT Labtech; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company near Cambridge is looking for a Finance professional to join their UK Finance team. This role involves providing tax support, handling VAT returns across multiple countries, and ensuring the month-end processes are efficient and accurate. The ideal candidate will be ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified, possess strong financial reporting skills in a manufacturing environment, and be proficient in ERP systems. The company offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, fostering inclusivity and diversity in its workforce.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Generous pension plan

Annual discretionary bonus

Qualifications

• Experience in a finance role with exposure to taxation.
• Methodical and detail-oriented with strong communication skills.
• Resilient under pressure, capable of meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide tax support and manage VAT returns.
• Support month-end and balance sheet processes.
• Drive efficiencies and process improvements.

Skills

ACCA, CIMA, ACA Qualified / Finalist

Strong understanding of financial reporting

Advanced Excel skills

Strong systems and IT capability

Independent working

Proactive communicator

Highly organised

Tools

ERP systems (Infor Syteline, SAP, Oracle, etc.)

Job description

About us

Based in Melbourn, near Cambridge, UK, SPT Labtech makes products that transform the way scientists work. For nearly two decades, our expert scientists, engineers and business innovators have provided scientists with world‑leading, innovative solutions for liquid handling, sample preparation, and sample management that help accelerate research and make a real difference to human health. We work collaboratively with our customers, building trusted relationships that enable us to deliver exceptional, personalised experiences designed for real‑world challenges in the lab.

The Role

Reporting to the Finance Manager, this role will join an agile, highly regarded, and hard‑working UK Finance team. We are looking for a team player with a can‑do attitude. You will be a conscientious self‑starter, aiding continuous improvement projects and business partnering, whilst developing your commercial finance and financial system skills. The breadth of the role, together with the ambition of the business and our investors, will offer the right candidate a fantastic opportunity to develop professionally whilst working within a fun, supportive and fast‑paced environment.

Job description

The successful candidate will report directly to the Finance Manager and work closely with our finance team, as well as supporting across the wider business to deliver high‑quality reconciliations, data analysis, and support to the business.

Key responsibilities

• Tax support
• VAT returns across multiple EU countries
• GST, HST and PST returns in Canada
• Sales tax submissions in relevant US states
• R&D tax credit calculations
• PSA submissions
  • Prepayments
  • Fixed asset management
  • Intercompany accounting and reconciliations
  • Payroll
• Input monthly journals
• Quarterly sales commission calculations
• To support the month end and balance sheet process for the above accounts. Ensure the process is robust, efficient and that the balance sheet accounts are reconciled. All reports are to be submitted in line with reporting deadlines.
• Drive for efficiency and process improvements throughout Finance and the business.
• Support the annual external statutory audit.
• Provide cover for the Management Accountant.

About you, your knowledge and technical skills

• ACCA, CIMA, ACA Qualified / Finalist.
• Technically strong with a good understanding of financial reporting in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience of working in a similar role with significant exposure to taxation.
• A clear and credible communicator.
• Natural proactive and quietly tenacious, spotting issues early and seeing them through.
• Comfortable working independently, with the good sense to ask the right questions at the right time.
• Highly organised and deadline‑driven, able to juggle competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and control.
• Process‑minded and improvement‑focused, with the curiosity to challenge how things are done and the pragmatism to make them better.
• Quick to get up to speed, able to absorb new information, systems and regulations.
• Methodical with a sharp eye for detail.
• Strong systems and IT capability, including advanced Excel skills and the confidence to work with ERP systems.
• Resilient under pressure, consistently delivering high‑quality work to tight reporting deadlines.

Desirable knowledge, experience, and technical skills

• Relevant industry background, ideally within life sciences, biotechnology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, or other regulated, technically complex environments. Experience in PE‑backed or international groups would be particularly welcome.
• Multi‑currency exposure.
• ERP system experience, ideally Infor Syteline, though exposure to other mid‑to‑large ERP platforms (such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics or similar) will be equally valuable.

Our commitment to you

We offer a competitive salary package and comprehensive, valued benefits, including private medical insurance, a generous pension plan, and an annual discretionary bonus.

We embrace diversity and inclusivity, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, or family status. We prioritise supporting our employees’ diverse needs as we strive for excellence together.

If the above resonates with you, apply with an up‑to‑date CV and be a part of our journey to reshape the future of science.