Interim Project Accountant

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

Job summary

Talk Staff is recruiting an experienced interim finance professional for a well-established manufacturing business in the Burton-on-Trent area. The role focuses on taking ownership of month-end, P&L review and financial controls while supporting budgeting and cash flow analysis.

The interim position is 3-4 months with potential for extension and involvement in wider projects. The role is hands-on, requiring resilience, strong communication with non-finance colleagues, and a pragmatic approach to

Qualifications

• Strong experience across management accounting & month end.
• Solid understanding of P&L, balance sheet and financial controls.
• Experience in manufacturing, engineering or another operational environment.
• Experience in SME or hands-on business.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and cash flow experience.
• Experience improving finance processes and controls.
• Strong Excel & financial systems experience.
• Ability to investigate variances and get under the numbers.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with non-finance stakeholders.
• Pragmatic hands-on approach and willingness to support where required.
• Experience coaching or developing junior finance colleagues (advantageous).
• ERP implementation or systems change experience (advantageous).

Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of 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 capacity to the finance team during a period of transition.
• Working with operational & commercial stakeholders to understand performance.
• Reviewing & strengthening finance controls and processes where needed.
• Supporting ongoing finance systems & process development.
• Guiding and supporting junior finance team members.
• Taking ownership of ad hoc finance projects as priorities develop.

Skills

Management accounting

Month end

P&L

Balance sheet

Financial controls

Manufacturing

Forecasting

Cash flow

Excel

Financial systems

Variance analysis

Stakeholder communication

Hands-on

Junior coaching

ERP change

Job description

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.

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