Management Accountant

A&O Shearman; Newtownabbey; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

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

You will prepare variance analyses, support budgeting cycles, and contribute to audits while driving process improvements under tight deadlines. This is an opportunity to collaborate with senior finance stakeholders in a professional services environment.

Qualifications

• ACCA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
• Up to 3 years post-qualification experience in a professional services or similar environment.
• Proven ability to prioritise multiple tasks and meet tight reporting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounting for UK offices, including P&L and balance sheet, to agreed timetables.
• Post journals, review costs, ensure balances are fully supported and explained.
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and resolve reconciling items.
• Prepare monthly variance analysis versus budget and forecast, explain key drivers.
• Support budgeting and forecasting cycles with high‑quality assumptions.
• Maintain data accuracy in finance systems and adhere to policies.
• Contribute to audit processes, prepare schedules and respond to queries.
• Identify process improvements to enhance efficiency and reporting quality.
• Collaborate with Team Lead and Financial Control on wider initiatives.
• Communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.

Skills

Time management

Prioritisation

Analytical thinking

Self-motivation

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

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.