Management Accountant - Content Agency and Publisher - #2168303

Management Accountant - Content Agency and Publisher

Fast-growing, medium-sized content agency and publisher are looking for a 1 to 2 years post qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) Management Accountant. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the role is responsible for maintaining an accurate general ledger within the finance system (Sage 200 Cloud) and supporting a robust month-end close process. The role plays a key part in ensuring high-quality financial reporting, strong financial controls, and reliable data across the business.

The role also supports ongoing finance process and systems improvements, working closely with the CFO and Financial Controller to enhance reporting, efficiency, and control. In addition, the Management Accountant will provide financial insight to support decision-making and help develop junior team members within the finance function.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Maintain an accurate general ledger in accordance with UK GAAP.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting, and commentary.
• Perform balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules with analysis, to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Provide P&L variance analysis (actual vs budget/forecast) with clear commentary and insight into key business drivers.
• Support the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes to ensure timely and accurate reporting. This includes posting journals such as accruals, prepayments, deferrals, banking, and other month-end adjustments.
• Maintain the daily cash flow forecast schedule with the support of the wider team.
• Assist the Financial Controller and sub-team leaders with reporting on monthly key metrics across the department.
• Maintain integrity of the finance system, including chart of accounts, FX processes, subledgers, and reporting structures.
• Review and analyse monthly sales commission calculations for accuracy and consistency ahead of payroll processing.

Business Partnering

• Act as a finance partner to the Sales, Marketing, and Operational teams, ensuring accurate and timely financial data flow across the business.
• Support stakeholders in understanding financial performance and improving data quality, completeness, and timeliness.
• Provide ad hoc analysis, forecasting input, and financial insights to support decision-making.

Tax, Compliance & External Reporting:

• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of VAT returns, corporation tax provisions, and National Statistics submissions.
• Support the year end accounts and annual audit process through preparation of schedules, supporting documentation, and resolution of auditor queries.

Financial Controls & Process Improvements:

• Contribute to continuous improvement of finance processes, controls, and systems.
• Support enhancements to Sage 200 and wider finance processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and reporting capability.
• Promote best practice and support embedding improved ways of working across the finance function.

Operational Finance Support:

• Support the Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Credit Control teams to ensure subledgers are accurately maintained and reconciled to control accounts.
• Ensure proper allocation of receipts, payments, and transactions, and support cash flow forecasting.
• Assist with payroll review and related finance inputs where required.
• Undertake ad hoc analysis, reporting, and finance tasks as required by the CFO and Financial Controller.

Skills & Experience:

Essential:

• Newly qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or finalist with relevant industry experience in a fast-paced, project-driven environment
• Solid working knowledge of UK best practice for core finance processes (AP, AR, GL accounting, banking), compliance, reporting, and systems
• Strong analytical ability and commercial awareness
• Strong technical accounting expertise, including UK GAAP, VAT, and taxation
• Excel skills at intermediate level or above; proficient with vlookups or index match functions and pivot tables as a minimum, and laying out clear working files

Desirable:

• Big-4 accounting firm trained
• Creative industry experience - e.g. media, entertainment or travel
• Experience with improving finance systems, controls and processes
• Systems implementation exposure is a plus

Attributes:

• Enthusiastic and results-driven with a can-do attitude, and calm under pressure
• Organised and detail-oriented, with high accuracy and a conscientious approach
• Ability to manage deadlines, prioritise workload, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborative team player with a positive and solution-focused mindset
• Strong communicator with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the business
  

Handle actively welcomes applicants from under-represented backgrounds - we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent for every opportunity through a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.