Management Accountant (Fixed Term Contract)

Lightfoot; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Lightfoot is seeking a Management Accountant to join our Finance team on a 16‑month fixed-term contract. reporting to the Head of Finance, you will manage month-end close, management accounts, invoicing and the sales ledger, and support payroll and payments across the group.

This hands-on role requires an experienced, organized professional who can adopt established processes quickly while contributing to finance system and process improvements during a time of transformation.

Qualifications

• Qualified CIMA, ACCA or ACA.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Solid experience of running month-end and preparing management accounts.
• Experience of sales ledger and customer invoicing.
• Desirable: Power Query, Power Automate or other automation tools.
• Desirable: experience in a subscription or SaaS business, ideally under IFRS.
• Desirable: experience of a finance system implementation.

Responsibilities

• Month-end close and management accounts, including invoicing and reconciliations.
• Maintain sales ledger and handle customer invoicing and credit notes.
• Manage company admin and statutory returns; support year-end audit.
• Oversee payroll and monthly/weekly payments.
• Support system implementation and day-to-day finance operations.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Month-end close

Sales ledger

Education

CIMA/ACCA/ACA qualified

Tools

Power Query

Power Automate

ERP implementation

Job description

About the Role

We're looking for a Management Accountant to join our Finance team on a fixed-term basis. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you'll manage month-end close and management accounts, look after statutory returns, own customer invoicing and the sales ledger, and support payroll and payments across the group.

This is a hands‑on role in a small, fast-moving team, suited to an experienced and organised individual who can pick up established processes quickly and keep the monthly cycle running smoothly.

It's also an exciting time to join. You'll have the opportunity to get involved in implementing new finance systems and processes, gaining valuable practical experience of finance transformation along the way.

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Location: Hybrid working, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays based in our Exeter office.

Contract duration: 16-month fixed-term contract, commencing in early 2027.

Key Responsibilities

Month-end and management accounts

• Manage the month end close, with responsibility for sales invoicing, producing and reviewing month end journals, intercompany and balance sheet reconciliations
• Review overheads against budget with department heads
• Maintain accurate records of subscriptions, including installations, renewals and churn
• Prepare management accounts reporting packs, KPIs, and board and external reporting

Sales ledger and customer billing

• Own sales ledger processes including month end invoicing, alongside ad‑hoc customer invoices and credit notes, and providing backing data for invoices
• Act as a point of contact for customer finance queries, managing the sales ledger mailbox and finance phone line
• Work with the Credit Controller to support debt collection

Company admin and statutory returns

• Manage company admin and prepare statutory returns including confirmation statements
• Maintain strong financial controls, prepare statutory accounts schedules and support the year-end audit

Payroll and payments

• Review, post and set up payment for monthly payroll, including commission workings
• Review and support on weekly payment runs

Other responsibilities

• Support other members of the team with day-to-day finance operations
• Support the planned move to a new finance system, including data migration and testing
• Ad‑hoc work as directed by the Head of Finance

Essential Skills & Experience

• Qualified CIMA, ACCA or ACA
• Advanced Excel skills
• Solid experience of running month-end and preparing management accounts
• Experience of sales ledger and customer invoicing
• Desirable: experience with Power Query, Power Automate or other automation tools
• Desirable: experience in a subscription or SaaS business, ideally under IFRS
• Desirable: experience of a finance system implementation

Ways of Working & Personal Attributes

• Able to take ownership of established processes
• Strong attention to detail, with a questioning nature
• Extremely organised and self‑motivated, comfortable managing a busy monthly cycle and fixed deadlines
• Thrives in a fast‑paced environment, able to adapt to changing priorities while maintaining accuracy
• Concise, clear communicator, confident dealing with customers by phone and email
• Enthusiastic, engaging and personable