Interim Project Accountant

Talk Staff Recruitment; Carnforth; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Talk Staff Recruitment is recruiting an interim finance professional for a Burton-on-Trent area client. The role is hands-on, focuses on detailed month-end and management accounting, and requires strong controls across P&L and balance sheet.

The assignment is 3–4 months with potential extensions, offering hybrid working and a day in the office to support the finance team. The ideal candidate will bring manufacturing/operational exposure, robust budgeting and cash flow skills, plus the ability to

Qualifications

• Extensive management accounting and month-end experience.
• Strong understanding of P&L, balance sheet and controls.
• Experience in manufacturing/operational environments.
• Hands-on, SME-style finance experience.
• Budgeting, forecasting and cash flow expertise.
• Experience improving finance processes and controls.
• Proficient Excel and financial systems.
• Ability to investigate variances and explain numbers.
• Clear finance commentary for non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience coaching junior finance staff.

Responsibilities

• Own monthly management accounts and month-end reporting.
• Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations.
• Review P&L performance and investigate variances.
• Provide clear financial commentary and analysis.
• Support budgeting and forecasting activity.
• Assist with cash flow reporting and analysis.
• Support year-end and audit requirements.
• Provide capacity to finance team during transition.
• Work with operational stakeholders to understand performance.
• Strengthen finance controls and processes where needed.
• Support ongoing system and process development.
• Mentor and guide junior staff.
• Take ownership of ad hoc finance projects as priorities develop.

Skills

Management accounting

Month-end

P&L understanding

Balance sheet

Financial controls

Budgeting & forecasting

Cash flow analysis

Stakeholder communication

Hand-on pragmatic approach

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Overview

We are working with a well-established and growing manufacturing business in the Burton-on-Trent area that is looking for an experienced interim finance professional to provide additional support to the finance team.

The business is currently going through a period of change within Finance and requires someone who can come in, quickly understand the operation and provide additional capacity and stability.

This is a hands-on interim position, suited to someone who enjoys getting into the detail, taking ownership and working closely with both Finance and operational colleagues.

The initial requirement is expected to be around 3-4 months, although there is potential for the assignment to be extended and for the successful individual to become involved in further projects across the wider business.

Reference

8017

Salary

£350 - £450/day

Job Location

United Kingdom -England -West Midlands -Staffordshire -Burton upon Trent

Job Type

Contract

Posted

11 September 2026

To be considered for the role, you'll require the following essentials:

• Strong experience across management accounting & month end


• A solid understanding of the P&L, balance sheet & financial controls


• Previous experience within manufacturing, engineering or another operational environment


• Experience working in an SME or similarly hands on business


• Strong budgeting, forecasting and cash flow experience


• Experience improving finance processes and controls


• Strong Excel & financial systems experience


• The ability to investigate variances & get underneath the numbers


• Strong communication skills & the ability to work with non-finance stakeholders


• A pragmatic, hands-on approach & willingness to support wherever required


• Experience coaching or developing junior finance colleagues - advantageous


• Experience of ERP implementation or systems change - advantageous

Within this position, you'll also be:

• Taking ownership of the monthly management accounts & month end reporting


• Preparing & reviewing balance sheet reconciliations


• Reviewing P&L performance & investigating variances


• Providing clear financial commentary & analysis


• Supporting budgeting & forecasting activity


• Assisting with cash flow reporting & analysis


• Supporting year end and audit requirements


• Providing additional capacity to the finance team during a period of transition


• Working closely with operational & commercial stakeholders to understand business performance


• Reviewing & strengthening finance controls and processes where required


• Supporting ongoing finance systems and process development


• Providing guidance and support to more junior members of the finance team


• Taking ownership of ad hoc finance projects as priorities develop

Salary & Working Hours

Salary is £350 - £450 per day, dependant on experience

Working Hours are Full Time, 4 days in the office and 1 day hybrid

3 - 4 months contract initially, with potential to extend