Retail Financial Accountant & Digital Lead

Halfords; Redditch; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Redditch seeks an experienced accountant to oversee key accounting areas, enhancing processes and facilitating finance transformations. Responsibilities include balance sheet reconciliations, P&L analysis, and supporting ERP implementation, all in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate will hold an accounting qualification and possess skills in process improvement, data integration, and stakeholder management. This role offers a competitive salary, hybrid working, and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary bonus scheme

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid working model

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering process improvement and automation within a finance or accounting function.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong technical accounting capability.
• Demonstrable experience working with ERP systems including data extraction and reporting.
• Proven knowledge of using AI tools including Copilot.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of balance sheet reconciliations and P&L in a time-pressured environment.
• Support finance transformation initiatives, including ERP implementation.
• Preparation and posting of technical accounting journals under IFRS 15.
• Deliver analytical reviews and identify financial performance risks and opportunities.

Skills

Process improvement

Technical accounting

ERP systems (e.g., SAP)

AI tools (e.g., Copilot)

Advanced Excel

Data integration

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Tools

Power BI

Job description

You’ll take ownership of key accounting areas including balance sheet reconciliations, P&L analysis, revenue recognition and technical journals, while working closely with SAP and other systems to understand data flows end to end. A core part of the role is identifying where processes, controls and reporting can be improved or automated, fixing issues at source and building scalable solutions using tools such as advanced Excel, Power BI and AI tools such as Copilot. You’ll also support audits, group reporting cycles and play an active role in finance transformation and upcoming ERP implementation.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of balance sheet reconciliations and key P&L lines within a time-pressured reporting environment
• Support of finance transformation initiatives, including ERP implementation and systems change
• Preparation and posting of key technical accounting journals, including revenue recognition under IFRS 15
• Delivery of analytical reviews and deep dives into financial performance, identifying risks and opportunities
• Identification, design and implementation of process improvements, automation opportunities and control enhancements
• Investigation and resolution of system, process and automation issues at source
• Development of clear, repeatable financial outputs and reports for wider finance and senior stakeholders
• Collaboration with internal and external auditors during half-year and year-end cycles
• Ongoing engagement with stakeholders across Finance, Transformation and the wider Retail business

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering process improvement and automation within a finance or accounting function
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong technical accounting capability
• Demonstrable experience working with ERP systems (e.g. SAP), including data extraction, reporting and analysis
• Proven knowledge of using AI tools including Copilot
• Advanced Excel skills, with experience using data and analytics tools such as Power BI
• Strong understanding of revenue recognition and complex accounting treatments
• Ability to integrate data from multiple systems into clear, meaningful outputs
• Confident stakeholder manager, able to explain complex financial and system concepts to non-finance audiences
• Comfortable working autonomously in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Detail-focused, analytical and naturally curious, with a drive to improve how things are done

Benefits

• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a holiday buy and sell scheme and enhanced family leave
• Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations
• We offer hybrid working with a blend of working in our Support Centre and from home
• You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services
• Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords

About Halfords

At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience, from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment.

Culture

The teams at our Redditch Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly. If you’re willing to get stuck in, you’ll love it here too. So put yourself at the heart of a dynamic, fast‑paced working environment where expertise and focus take people far.

EEO Statement

At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We’re an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.