Management Accounts Assistant

LOCALiQ; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Birthday off

Pension plan

Employee Helpline

Perks & discounts

Gym membership

Cycle to Work scheme

Eye care

Retail discounts

Team building days

Volunteer charity day

Job summary

Newsquest is seeking a proactive finance professional to join its team. You will support management accounting, reporting and forecasting, providing insights to drive business performance across multiple sites in the UK. The role involves collaboration with operational managers, maintaining robust controls and contributing to process improvements.

This hybrid position may require travel to Norwich and other offices as needed, with opportunities for development within a dynamic media organisation.

Qualifications

• Part-qualified ACCA/CIMA or equivalent or qualified by experience.
• Experience in management accounting or assistant accountant role.
• Strong understanding of month-end processes, journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Experience producing management information, financial analysis and reporting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to handle large data sets.
• Ability to communicate findings to non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong organisation and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proactive and collaborative approach with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and post month-end journals, including accruals and prepayments.
• Support production of monthly management accounts and commentary.
• Prepare reporting packs and KPIs for management review.
• Perform variance analysis against budget/forecast/prior year.
• Assist with year-end schedules, reconciliations and audits.
• Prepare weekly profit forecasts from commercial submissions.
• Review submissions, challenge assumptions and investigate variances.
• Support annual budgets and periodic forecasts.
• Maintain forecasting and budgeting models.
• Analyze trends and provide insights into performance.
• Assist budget holders with forecasting, planning and cost management.
• Build relationships with managers and stakeholders.
• Provide timely financial information to operational teams.
• Understand departmental cost drivers and monitor movements.
• Produce regular and ad hoc reporting for decisions.
• Maintain financial controls and governance processes.
• Identify risk areas and suggest improvements.
• Support process improvements and automation initiatives.
• Develop SOPs and documentation; support wider team.

Skills

ACCA/CIMA

Management accounting

Month-end processes

Journals

Accruals

Prepayments

Reconciliations

Management reporting

Data analysis

Excel skills

Stakeholder communication

Organisational skills

Team collaboration

Education

ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Join Newsquest, one of the UK's largest and most successful local media organisations, reaching millions of readers every month through our trusted newspapers, websites and digital marketing solutions. As part of our Finance team, you'll play a key role in supporting the delivery of accurate financial reporting, forecasting and analysis that helps drive business performance across the organisation.

Reporting to the Financial Controller and working within a wider finance function, you'll assist in the production of management information, provide valuable insight into financial performance, and support operational managers in achieving business objectives while maintaining robust financial controls.

This is a hybrid role, with travel to our Norwich office as and when required. We also have offices in Basildon, Colchester and Ipswich, which may provide additional flexibility depending on your location and business requirements. In addition, we have a Central London office in Holborn, where occasional team or business meetings may be held, requiring infrequent travel as needed.

This opportunity would suit an ambitious finance professional who enjoys working collaboratively, analysing financial data, influencing decision-making and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives within a dynamic and evolving business.

Key Responsibilities

Management Accounting & Reporting

• Prepare and post month-end journals, including accruals, prepayments and cost reallocations.
• Support the production of monthly management accounts and associated commentary.
• Prepare reporting packs and key performance indicators for management review.
• Complete detailed variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year performance.
• Assist with year-end schedules, reconciliations and audit requirements.

Forecasting, Budgeting & Analysis

• Prepare weekly profit forecasts using submissions from Commercial Directors and operational teams.
• Review financial submissions, challenge assumptions where appropriate and investigate variances.
• Support the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts.
• Maintain forecasting and budgeting models.
• Analyse trends and provide meaningful insight into financial and operational performance.
• Assist budget holders with forecasting, planning and cost management activities.

Business Partnering & Commercial Support

• Build strong relationships with managers and stakeholders across the business.
• Support operational teams by providing timely and accurate financial information.
• Develop a detailed understanding of departmental and operational cost drivers.
• Monitor costs and identify unusual movements, trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce regular and ad hoc reporting to support business decision-making.

Controls, Compliance & Governance

• Ensure financial records are maintained in line with company policies and accounting standards.
• Prepare and maintain balance sheet reconciliations, resolving outstanding items promptly.
• Support internal and external audit requirements.
• Help maintain strong financial controls and governance processes.
• Identify areas of risk and recommend improvements to controls and procedures.
• Ensure reporting deadlines are consistently achieved with a high degree of accuracy.

Process Improvement & Team Support

• Identify opportunities to improve reporting efficiency, accuracy and automation.
• Support the implementation of new systems and reporting tools.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the finance function.
• Assist in the development of standard operating procedures and process documentation.
• Provide support to colleagues within the wider finance team.
• Undertake ad hoc projects, analysis and reporting as required.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

• Part-qualified (ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• Previous experience working within a management accounting or assistant accountant role.
• Strong understanding of month-end processes, journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Experience producing management information, financial analysis and reporting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large volumes of data.
• Ability to interpret financial information and communicate findings clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proactive and collaborative approach with excellent communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience working within a multi-site or fast-paced commercial environment.
• Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling.
• Experience supporting audits and maintaining financial controls.
• Exposure to reporting systems and finance automation projects.
• Experience using ERP or finance systems such as Oracle, SAP, NetSuite or similar.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially aware and driven to understand business performance.
• Curious, inquisitive and confident challenging assumptions.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment.
• Team-oriented with a positive and professional attitude.
• Committed to continuous learning and personal development.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
• Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
• Structured career progression & ongoing training
• Pension plan
• Employee Helpline counselling and advice
• Perks & discounts including:
• Gym membership
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care
• Retail discounts
• Team building days & annual volunteer charity day