About us
We are a small group of companies operating predominantly within the care sector and are seeking an experienced, professional and proactive Bookkeeper to take responsibility for the day-to-day bookkeeping and financial records across the group. The role requires someone who can work independently, take ownership of the books through to month-end, and identify and investigate discrepancies rather than simply process transactions.
About the Role
As the Senior Bookkeeper, you will oversee all daily financial operations, lead a small finance team, and ensure accurate and timely reporting. You will also prepare monthly and annual management accounts, manage budgets, analyse costs, and support senior management with financial decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Financial control & team leadership
- Oversee all bookkeeping and financial operations across the group, including purchase, sales and nominal ledgers for multiple companies
- Lead and supervise staff involved in bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable and ledger maintenance
- Maintain strong financial controls, processes and compliance
- Provide monthly financial reports directly to the Managing Director
Month-end, reporting & reconciliations
- Take ownership of month-end procedures, including accruals, prepayments, reconciliations and preparation of month-end information
- Prepare accurate monthly management accounts with variance analysis
- Complete bank, ledger, balance sheet and intercompany reconciliations, promptly investigating unreconciled or unusual items
- Produce annual accounts in collaboration with external accountants, and prepare supporting schedules for year-end
- Prepare and submit VAT returns where applicable
Budgeting & cost control
- Prepare annual budgets with senior management and monitor performance against them
- Compare actual monthly income and expenditure against budget, investigate material variances and proactively raise concerns with management
- Monitor costs and identify unusual expenditure, overspending, errors, duplicate charges and potential savings
- Identify opportunities to maximise profitability, and ensure managers adhere to staffing budgets so they don't over-employ
- Manage cash flow planning and forecasting
Payroll
- Run or oversee weekly and/or monthly payrolls across the group, including PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, statutory payments, starters and leavers, and HMRC submissions
- Reconcile payroll to the accounting records and identify unusual movements in payroll or staffing costs
Care operations & other oversight
- Ensure care fees are correctly calculated, invoiced and recorded, and reconcile payments received
- Oversight, monitoring and approval of maintenance expenditure
- Oversight of risk assessments and business continuity plans
- Liaise with external accountants, auditors, HMRC and suppliers
About You
- Minimum of five years' practical bookkeeping experience.
- Capable of producing management accounts independently
- Experience of bank and ledger reconciliations.
- Confident supervising a small finance team
- Commercially minded with strong analytical skills
- Highly organised with exceptional accuracy and integrity
- Part-qualified ACCA/CIMA or AAT Level 4 preferred (but not essential)
- Strong practical experience with Sage 50 and payroll software
- Fully conversant with Microsoft Word and Excel
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear letters, reports and documents for internal and external stakeholders and suppliers.
Desirable Skills
- AAT or another recognised bookkeeping/accounting qualification, or part-qualified ACCA/CIMA.
- Previous bookkeeping experience within care homes, supported living, domiciliary care or the wider care sector is highly desirable but not essential.
- Previous experience managing bookkeeping across multiple companies.
What We Offer
- A modern office setting in Sutton Coldfield.
- A safe and supportive work environment.
- Opportunities for on-the-job training and professional development.
- Negotiable hours/ salary dependant on experience
- Company pension scheme
- Competitive Salary depending on experience
We're looking for someone with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a professional and confident telephone manner, and the ability to build strong working relationships with managers, employees, suppliers and external accountants. You'll be organised, reliable and commercially aware, with the confidence to proactively raise concerns when the figures don't add up.
We're looking for someone seeking a long-term role who will take real ownership of the position and become a trusted, permanent member of the team.
If you are a detail-oriented and experienced finance professional looking to make a significant impact within a growing company, we encourage you to apply.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £34,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Sage 50 Accounting: 2 years (required)
- Accounting: 5 years (required)
- Bookkeeping: 5 years (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Location:
- Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands (preferred)
Work Location: In person
