Group Accountant

Forge Talent; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Forge Talent is recruiting a Group Accountant to join a central finance team in a hybrid role. You will drive accurate financial reporting, strengthen controls, support audits and push continuous improvement across finance.

This is an excellent chance to develop with exposure to senior leadership and a fast-growing PE-backed business. The role suits a qualified accountant seeking breadth across finance and a first move into industry, with strong UK accounting knowledge and a proactive

Qualifications

• ACCA or ACA qualification is essential.
• Strong financial controls knowledge and UK reporting standards.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence with finance systems.
• Experience mentoring or coaching junior team members is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end close and ensure deadlines are met.
• Review reporting for compliance with FRs102 / UK standards.
• Serve as a key point for internal/external audits.
• Explain variances between weekly and monthly reporting.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to improve reporting accuracy.
• Monitor performance, identify risks/opportunities in results.
• Maintain finance risk framework across the function.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and timely reviews.
• Support finance projects and strategic initiatives.
• Drive process improvements through analysis and change.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder comms

Analytical skills

Financial controls

Education

ACCA/ACA Qualified

Tools

Excel

Job description

Hybrid Working Available

The Opportunity

Forge Talent are partnering with a well-established PE-backed, fast-growing organisation to recruit a Group Accountant into their central finance team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified accountant looking to step into a broad finance role with significant exposure to senior leadership. You'll play a key part in delivering accurate financial reporting, strengthening financial controls, supporting audit processes and driving continuous improvement across the finance function.

The role offers genuine scope to influence processes, work closely with key stakeholders across the business and contribute to the ongoing development of a high-performing finance team. This is a perfect opportunity for someone's first move into industry. Must be ACCA or ACA Qualified

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the month-end close process, ensuring reporting deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Review financial reporting processes to ensure compliance with current accounting standards (FRS 102).
• Act as a key contact for both internal and external audit queries and information requests.
• Analyse and explain variances between weekly operational reporting and monthly management accounts.
• Partner with commercial finance teams to investigate reporting differences and improve accuracy.
• Monitor financial performance, identifying key risks and opportunities within reported results.
• Maintain and develop the finance risk framework, working collaboratively across the wider finance function.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring completion, accuracy and timely review.
• Support business-critical finance projects and strategic initiatives as required.
• Drive process improvements through detailed analysis, challenging existing ways of working and implementing more efficient solutions.

About You

We're keen to speak with candidates who have:

• Previous experience within audit, practice, or a sizeable corporate environment with strong financial controls.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and understanding of UK reporting standards.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working across finance systems.
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• A proactive mindset with a genuine passion for continuous improvement.
• Previous experience mentoring, coaching or supporting junior team members would be advantageous.

What's on Offer

• Salary of £50,000 - £60,000 depending on experience.
• Exposure to senior leadership and key business decision-makers.
• A supportive environment that encourages progression and development.
• The opportunity to play a visible role within a fast-growing PE-backed business with an evolving finance function.