Financial Accounting Manager (Maternity Cover)

LGBT Jobs; Castleton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Health plan

Staff discounts

Pension scheme

Hybrid working

Job summary

Marston Holdings is seeking a Group Management Accounting Manager on a 14–16-month maternity cover contract. Role based in the UK with a two-day-a-week presence in the Rochdale office, leading Group month-end reporting and balance sheet governance in a PE-backed environment.

The role requires ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification and strong IFRS/UK GAAP knowledge, including IFRS 16. You will manage a small team and drive process improvements across finance functions.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA
• Degree in finance, accounting or related field or equivalent experience
• Strong IFRS and UK GAAP knowledge, including IFRS 16
• Experience partnering with the business on financial decisions
• Proven track record of accurate month-end reporting and coordination of audits
• Experience in multi-entity or PE-backed environments
• Experience managing or supervising a small team including offshore resources
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

Responsibilities

• Lead Group month-end close process with timely reporting
• Own balance sheet integrity; manage reconciliations and clean-up
• Develop robust balance sheet governance and controls
• Coordinate external audit (PBC) and respond to audit queries
• Ensure accounting policies and technical requirements are applied consistently
• Oversee intercompany reconciliations, accruals and provisions
• Oversee payroll journals via D365 and TM1
• Manage and develop a small team, including offshore staff
• Support process improvements and group finance projects

Skills

Month-end reporting

Audit coordination

Finance business partnering

Strong technical IFRS/UK GAAP

Team leadership

Problem solving

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Finance degree or equivalent

Tools

D365

TM1

Job description

Financial Accounting Manager (Maternity Cover)

Financial Accounting Manager (Maternity Cover)

Job Type: Contract

Highlighted points for this job

Hybrid working option with two days per week in Rochdale office

14–16-month fixed-term contract providing maternity cover

Role requires ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification

Emphasis on experience with IFRS and UK GAAP, especially IFRS 16

Need for strong month-end reporting and audit coordination skills

Opportunity to manage a team and influence financial process improvements

Access to comprehensive benefits including annual leave, health plan, and staff discounts

Location: Hybrid – two days per week in our Rochdale office
Contract: 14–16-month fixed-term contract (maternity cover)
Department: Group Finance

Marston Holdings is one of the UK’s leading debt recovery and enforcement services providers, supporting local and central government, utilities and the private sector. Through its specialist businesses, the Group delivers technology-enabled solutions across debt collection, enforcement and recovery, alongside clean air and traffic management services.

Introduction into the position

We are looking for an experienced Group Management Accounting Manager to join our Group Finance team on a 14–16-month fixed-term contract, providing maternity cover.

Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, you will lead Group month-end reporting, balance sheet governance and financial control across a complex, multi-entity, PE-backed environment. You will play a key role in the external audit process, improving reconciliations and reporting processes, and supporting the Group’s legal entity rationalisation programme. You will also manage a small team and work closely with finance teams across the business to ensure accurate, timely and reliable financial reporting.

What you will be doing:

Lead the Group month-end close process, ensuring accurate and timely reporting against agreed deadlines.

Own Group balance sheet integrity, leading reconciliation and clean-up activities, reviewing balances and resolving historical items and discrepancies.

Develop and maintain robust balance sheet governance, including standardised templates, clear ownership, review sign-off, issue tracking and effective controls.

Coordinate the external audit Prepared by Client (PBC) process, acting as a key contact for auditors and ensuring supporting evidence and audit queries are dealt with promptly.

Ensure accounting policies and technical requirements are consistently applied, working with the Technical Reporting team on complex accounting matters.

Analyse and explain balance sheet movements, oversee intercompany reconciliations, and review accruals, prepayments, provisions and other accounting adjustments.

Oversee Group cost allocations and fixed asset accounting, ensuring accurate recording, reconciliation and allocation across entities.

Drive continuous improvement through process standardisation, automation and stronger financial controls.

Work with transactional finance, operational teams and Group FP&A to ensure accurate financial information and reporting.

Support legal entity rationalisation, including balance sheet clean-up, intercompany reconciliations and transfers of assets and liabilities.

Oversee payroll journals through D365 and TM1, ensuring entries are accurate, complete and appropriately reviewed.

Manage and develop a Financial Accountant and offshore assistant, providing guidance, reviewing work and ensuring deadlines are met.

Support ad hoc Group Finance projects and process improvement initiatives.

What we are looking for:

A professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).

A degree in finance, accounting or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and UK GAAP, including IFRS 16, ideally within a multi-entity group.

Demonstrable finance business partnering experience.

Proven experience delivering accurate and timely month-end reporting in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Experience in group consolidations, balance sheet reconciliations, statutory reporting and working with external auditors.

A track record of improving finance processes, reporting and financial controls.

Experience managing or supervising a small team, including reviewing others’ work; experience managing offshore teams would be advantageous.

Experience in a PE-backed or similarly complex group environment is desirable.

Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and a right-first-time mindset.

Clear communication skills, problem-solving ability and curiosity, with the confidence to explain financial matters to non-specialists.

Excellent organisation skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines.

Advanced Excel skills; experience with D365 and TM1 would be an advantage.

What you will get in return:

25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Package, subject to eligibility criteria

Health Cash Back Plan

Staff benefits, including discounts on high street and online shopping, travel, socialising and wellbeing

Pension Scheme

Hybrid working, with two days per week in our Rochdale office

New starters will be subject to clearance through the Disclosure and Barring Service and a County Court Judgment check. In addition, the post holder is expected to keep the Company updated if their personal circumstances change.

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
INDV