Growth-Focused Management Accountant (Hybrid)

Happy Days Nurseries; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working after six months

CPD and career development

Generous annual leave

People's Pension

Life assurance

Job summary

Happy Days Nurseries in Swindon is seeking a Senior Management Accountant to join our growing finance team. You will produce management accounts, analyse income and costs, and provide clear financial information to support decision-making across our nursery portfolio.

You will partner with nursery and operational teams, explaining results and identifying opportunities to improve performance. This role combines strong accounting with a commercial mindset and a collaborative approach.

Qualifications

• Ideally fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• 2 years post qualification experience or longer if unqualified.
• Experience preparing monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Experience analysing financial performance and explaining results to different stakeholders.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with financial data.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Experience managing, mentoring or supporting team members.

Responsibilities

• Preparing monthly management accounts for nursery sites and departments.
• Producing monthly reports and management information for senior leaders.
• Analysing income and costs to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Comparing results against budgets and previous years and explaining any differences.
• Supporting the annual budgeting and forecasting process.
• Coordinating month-end activities and making sure financial information is accurate and complete.
• Preparing balance sheet reconciliations and supporting the annual audit process.
• Working with the People Team to ensure payroll costs are reported correctly.
• Maintaining accurate financial records and cost centre structures.
• Finding ways to improve processes, automate reporting and provide better financial information.
• Visiting nursery sites to build relationships and help managers understand their financial performance.
• Supporting the integration of newly acquired nursery settings into our reporting processes.

Skills

Accounting knowledge

Commercial awareness

Data storytelling

Problem solving

Communication

Budgeting/forecasting

Education

ACCA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Qualified by experience

Tools

Excel

Financial data analysis

Job description

Happy Days Nurseries in Swindon is seeking a Senior Management Accountant to join our growing finance team. You will produce management accounts, analyse income and costs, and provide clear financial information to support decision-making across our nursery portfolio.

You will partner with nursery and operational teams, explaining results and identifying opportunities to improve performance. This role combines strong accounting with a commercial mindset and a collaborative approach.