Management Accountant

A&O Shearman; Holywood; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Culture and benefits

Job summary

A&O Shearman is seeking a Management Accountant to join its Financial Control team in Belfast. The role focuses on UK offices, supporting monthly management accounting, P&L and balance sheet reviews, and provide timely, accurate financial reporting.

You will prepare variance analyses, support budgeting and forecasting cycles, maintain strong controls, and contribute to audits. The ideal candidate is ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified with up to 3 years post-qualification experience.

Qualifications

• Membership of a recognised professional accounting body (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Able to manage time effectively and meet tight reporting deadlines.
• Demonstrates ability to prioritise workloads and adapt to changing priorities.
• Delivers high-quality client service through trusted-advisor relationships.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with actionable insights.
• Self-motivated, autonomous, and consistently delivers high-standard work.

Responsibilities

• Assist monthly management accounting for UK offices, including P&L and balance sheet review.
• Post journals, review costs, and ensure balances are supported and explained.
• Run monthly balance sheet reconciliations and investigate movements.
• Prepare variance analysis against budget and forecast; explain key drivers.
• Support budgeting and forecasting with robust assumptions and data.
• Maintain strong financial controls and data accuracy in finance systems.
• Contribute to statutory and group audit processes and year-end close.
• Identify process improvements to enhance efficiency and quality of management information.
• Collaborate with the Team Lead and Financial Control team on broader finance initiatives.
• Communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders and adapt messaging.

Skills

Time management

Prioritisation

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Initiative

Education

ACA / ACCA / CIMA membership

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Management Accountant to join our Financial Control team, based in A&O Shearman's Belfast Office.

Financial Control team - Belfast

The Belfast Financial Control Department provides services to the A&O Shearman network of offices covering management and financial accounting & reporting. Offices currently served are London, Belfast, Ireland, US, Middle East and Netherlands.

There is a strong client service ethic, and we work to Service Level Agreements, targets and deadlines to deliver in line with client expectations.

This role will primarily have a UK focus and be based in Belfast.

What you will do

• Support in the preparation of the monthly management accounting for the UK offices, including preparation and review of the P&L and balance sheet to agreed timetables.
• Produce accurate monthly results, posting journals, reviewing costs, and ensuring all balances are fully supported, understood, and explained.
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations, investigate movements, resolve reconciling items, and ensure timely clearance of aged balances.
• Prepare monthly variance analysis versus budget and forecast, clearly explaining key drivers, ensuring a timely and high-quality P&L signoff.
• Support management team in the budgeting and forecasting cycles, by preparing high-quality budget assumptions built on measurable data
• Ensure strong financial control, maintaining accurate data in finance and forecasting systems and adhering to internal control and accounting policies.
• Contribute to the statutory and group audit process, preparing audit-ready schedules, responding to queries, and supporting the year-end close.
• Identify and implement process improvements, aiming to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and enhance the quality of management information.
• Work closely with the Team Lead and Financial Control team, supporting wider finance initiatives and contributing to value-adding analysis and insight.
• Communicate financial information clearly and confidently to non-finance stakeholders, adapting messages to suit the audience.
• Manage competing priorities across month-end, forecasting, and BAU activity, escalating issues early where delivery or quality may be impacted

What you will have

• Member of a recognised professional accounting body (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), with up to 3 years post-qualification experience in a professional services or comparable environment.
• Demonstrates strong time management skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure and adopt a flexible approach to meet tight reporting deadlines.
• Proven ability to prioritise workloads and manage multiple tasks concurrently within a fast-paced environment, responding effectively to shifting priorities and ad-hoc management requests.
• Ability to deliver high-quality client service through the development of strong, trusted-advisor relationships with key stakeholders, clients, and senior management.
• Analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to develop meaningful, well-reasoned points of view and provide clear, actionable insight.
• Self-motivated and solution-driven, with the ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and consistently deliver work to a high standard.

What we can offer you

To learn more about the culture and benefits available at A&O Shearman, please visit: Culture and benefits A&O Shearman careers

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.