Finance Manager

Harper Finley Professional Recruitment; Arklow; On-site; EUR 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Harper Finley Professional Recruitment seeks a hands-on Finance Manager in Arklow, Co. Wicklow. The role leads the finance function, supervises bookkeeping, and drives month-end, reconciliations and control processes.

You will own the MRP/ERP system, focusing on job costing and ensuring data integrity between operations and accounting. The ideal candidate is a qualified accountant with strong systems skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving, capable of guiding a growing

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant ACA/ACCA or equivalent.
• Strong technical accounting and month-end experience.
• Hands-on experience in an accounts function.
• Experience managing bookkeepers and reconciliations.

Responsibilities

• Owns the finance and accounting function on a day-to-day basis.
• Manages, develops and supervises the bookkeeping team; oversees AP/AR and GL integrity.
• Owns month-end close and prepares monthly management accounts and cash-flow reporting.
• Ensures VAT, payroll and statutory obligations are completed accurately and on time.
• Takes financial ownership of the MRP system, particularly job costing; coordinates with operations.

Skills

Technical accounting

Month-end experience

People management

ERP/MRP systems

Job costing understanding

Commercial awareness

Problem solving

Education

ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Tools

ERP/MRP software

Job description

Finance Manager

Location: Arklow, County Wicklow | On-site

Salary: €75,000

About the Role

A hands-on Finance Manager opportunity for a qualified accountant to take ownership of the finance function within a growing engineering business. The role combines leadership of the bookkeeping team with direct involvement in reconciliations, month-end, accounting issues and financial controls. The Finance Manager will also take financial ownership of the company's MRP/ERP system, particularly job costing, ensuring accurate information flows between operational and accounting systems.

Key Responsibilities

Finance & Accounting

• Take day-to-day ownership of the finance and accounting function.
• Manage, supervise and develop the bookkeeping team.
• Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Maintain the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger.
• Complete and review bank, balance sheet and control account reconciliations.
• Review debtors, creditors, accruals, prepayments and other balance sheet items.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies and accounting issues.

Month-End & Reporting

• Own the month-end close and deliver accurate accounts on time.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and supporting schedules.
• Produce cash-flow reporting and short-term cash forecasts.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and senior management/board reporting.

Compliance & Controls

• Ensure VAT, payroll-related and other statutory obligations are completed accurately and on time.
• Prepare year-end schedules and liaise with external auditors/accountants.
• Strengthen financial controls and processes as the business grows.

MRP & Job Costing

• Take financial ownership of the MRP system, particularly job costing.
• Monitor and reconcile the MRP system against the accounting system and resolve differences.
• Work with operations to ensure jobs and costs are captured correctly.
• Improve processes and controls across both systems.

Requirements

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent).
• Strong technical accounting and month-end experience.
• Hands-on experience within an accounts function.
• Experience managing bookkeepers while remaining actively involved in reconciliations, journals and accounting issues.
• Strong systems skills across operational/MRP and accounting systems.
• Understanding of job costing, ideally within manufacturing, engineering, project-based or similar environments.
• Commercial awareness, strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.