Lead Accountant Inventory

Burberry; East Midlands, Leeds; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading luxury brand in the East Midlands is seeking a Lead Accountant for Inventory to manage accounting processes and ensure compliance. The role requires an ACA, CA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification and strong leadership skills. You'll oversee inventory accounting, manage a team, and partner with finance stakeholders to enhance operational excellence. This position offers opportunities for continuous improvement and professional growth in a creative environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified in ACA, CA, ACCA, or CIMA.
• Experience in leading and managing teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team delivering shared service.
• Oversee end-to-end inventory accounting processes.
• Deliver high-quality management and statutory reports.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

IT systems understanding

Efficiency through technology

Education

ACA, CA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

Overview

Lead Accountant – Inventory | BBS Leeds

At Burberry, we believe creativity opens spaces. Our purpose is to unlock the power of imagination to push boundaries and open new possibilities for our people, our customers and our communities. This is the core belief that has guided Burberry since it was founded in 1856 and is central to how we operate as a company today.

We aim to provide an environment for creative minds from different backgrounds to thrive, bringing a wide range of skills and experiences to everything we do. As a purposeful, values-driven brand, we are committed to be a force for good in the world as well, creating the next generation of sustainable luxury for customers, driving industry change and championing our communities.

Purpose :

The Lead Accountant is responsible for the delivery of Record to Report Inventory accounting processes within the Inventory Centre of Excellence (CoE), ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strong internal controls. This role plays a pivotal part in managing inventory accounting for global operations, including forecasting, partnering with Group Finance, Commercial Finance, and other stakeholders to provide insight and ensure operational excellence across Burberry.

The successful candidate will lead a team of accountants, ensuring effective delivery of agreed services, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and supporting the growth and transformation of the team.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a team delivering shared service requirements.
• Oversee and execute end-to-end inventory accounting processes, including preparation and completion of bi-annual stocktakes.
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, and inventory transactions.
• Ensure timely month-end, half-year, and year-end close processes.
• Deliver high-quality management and statutory reports to Group Finance.
• Partner with FP&A and Commercial Finance on forecasting and accounting judgments.
• Support audits and act as escalation point for service issues.
• Lead inventory-related projects and process improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate across teams to enhance systems and resolve root causes.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Champion change and foster a culture of improvement.
• Align team goals with business strategies and performance objectives.
• Identify process gaps and implement sustainable solutions.
• Leverage feedback and cross-functional collaboration to improve service delivery.

Qualifications & Skills

• ACA, CA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Good understanding of IT systems; SAP experience is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive efficiencies through technology.

Burberry is an Equal Opportunities Employer and as such, treats all applications equally and recruits purely on the basis of skills and experience.