Senior Bookkeeper Specialist (UK GAAP)

Penbrothers International; Makati; Remote; PHP 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work & Growth

Employee as our biggest asset

Global reach & local impact

Powering global startups

Job summary

Penbrothers is hiring an experienced bookkeeper/finance professional to manage full-cycle bookkeeping and management accounts for UK-based operations. The role is remote from the Philippines (Metrow Manila area) with UK-focused accounting standards.

You will oversee day-to-day transaction recording, month-end close, and financial reporting across multiple entities, leveraging Xero or Sage. Strong Excel skills and proactive communication with UK leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of full-cycle bookkeeping and management accounts experience.
• Experience with UK-based businesses and UK GAAP.
• Experience in multi-entity, multi-branch, or buy-and-build environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Execute and oversee day-to-day transaction recording with double-entry principles.
• Prepare periodic management accounts and financial statements with timely month-end close.
• Perform trial balance reviews, adjustments, accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and reconciliations.
• Onboard and integrate newly acquired nursery locations under group structure.
• Manage AP/AR workflows including vendor invoices, payments, and reconciliations.
• Conduct regular bank reconciliations and cash position monitoring.

Skills

Double-entry bookkeeping

Month-end close

Trial balance

Financial reporting

UK GAAP

Excel

English communication

Multi-entity accounting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy/Finance

CPA or equivalent certification

Tools

Xero

Sage

Parenta

EY Manage

Job description

Work Setup: Remote / Work-from-home

Working Hours / Schedule: 1:00PM to 10:00PM PHT

What you’ll do

• General Ledger & Accounting Integrity:

  • Execute and oversee day-to-day transaction recording with absolute mastery of double-entry bookkeeping principles.

  • Conduct regular trial balance reviews, month-end adjustments, accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and adjusting journal entries.

  • Maintain clean, audit-ready balance sheet schedules and general ledger hygiene across all entities.

• Management Accounts & Reporting:

  • Prepare and deliver accurate periodic management accounts, financial statements, and performance summaries for leadership within one week of month-end.

  • Provide variance analysis and commentary on nursery-level and consolidated operational performance.

• Multi-Entity Integration & Systems Maintenance:

  • Support the financial and accounting onboarding of newly acquired nursery locations under the group’s buy-and-build model.

  • Utilize modern accounting platforms (such as Xero or Sage) and sector-specific operational tools (including EY Manage and Parenta).

  • Recommend and implement workflow automations to streamline month-end close, financial record-keeping, and reporting cycles.

• Accounts Payable (AP) & Accounts Receivable (AR):

  • Own full-cycle AP and AR workflows, including vendor bill verification, nursery fee invoicing, and payment collection tracking.

  • Schedule, review, and execute accurate supplier payment batches and bank transfers.

• Reconciliations & Cash Controls:

  • Perform regular, comprehensive bank reconciliations to ensure general ledger balances match real-time cash positions.

  • Oversee branch petty cash accounts, verify expenditure receipts, and perform multi-site cash reconciliations.

(Note: End-to-end UK payroll processing is managed separately for now, with the potential to integrate into financial workflows in future operational phases.)

What You Bring

• Experience:

  • 3–5+ years of solid, hands-on experience in full-cycle bookkeeping and management accounts preparation.

  • Proven track record working with UK-based businesses and practical adherence to UK GAAP.

  • Experience within a multi-entity, multi-branch, or buy-and-build environment is highly advantageous.

• Technical Accounting Depth:

  • Deep, flawless understanding of core double-entry accounting mechanics, trial balance adjustments, and month-end close workflows.

  • High numerical precision and analytical rigor; ability to spot and rectify GL discrepancies independently.

• Certifications & Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Finance, or a related field.

  • Professional accounting qualification or post-degree certification—such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a recognized Certified Bookkeeper credential is strongly preferred. Candidates with extensive, demonstrable UK accounting expertise without formal credentials will also be evaluated.

• Software & Technical Proficiency:

  • Advanced proficiency in cloud accounting software (Xero, Sage, or similar platforms).

  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, sumifs, and structured financial models).

  • Comfort with or willingness to learn specialized childcare operational platforms (e.g., Parenta, EY Manage).

  • Exposure to UK payroll or pension systems is a plus, though not required.

• Communication & Work Ethic:

  • Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills.

  • High level of self-management, proactive problem-solving, and confidence in communicating directly with UK leadership.

Our Hiring Process & AI Disclaimer

We use AI tools to streamline our application process—including an initial conversation with an AI Interviewer. All hiring decisions are made entirely by humans: our Talent Acquisition team guides your full candidate journey and makes all evaluation decisions.

You are welcome to use AI for CV refinement and research, but real-time AI assistance during interviews or skill assessments is strictly prohibited to ensure an authentic evaluation.

What You’ll Get

At Penbrothers, we are obsessed with creating positive employee experiences. Here you’ll find an environment that nurtures learning and provides opportunities for growth. You’ll have the opportunity to make an impact on fast-growing startups and dynamic companies.

• Meaningful work & Growth: We take every opportunity to stretch ourselves and deliver an excellent client experience.

• Employee as our biggest asset: We are genuinely invested in our people’s career and welfare.

• Global reach & local impact: Get to work with high-growth startups and dynamic companies from the comfort of your own home.

• Powering global startups: We’ve created 1,400 Filipino jobs that empower global start-ups to focus on growth.