About the Role
Shack Events is a leading bar and confectionery operator, delivering exceptional food and beverage experiences at some of the UK's largest stadia, sporting venues and live events.
We specialise in innovative drinks concepts, including our own kegged spirit and mixer range and cocktails, alongside mainstream draught beer, craft beer and real ale operations. Since 2023, we have expanded our offering to include confectionery, providing services such as pick & mix, doughnuts, ice cream and popcorn.
As a fast-growing business operating in a dynamic, high-volume environment, we're continually evolving and investing in our people, processes and commercial performance. Joining Shack Events means becoming part of an ambitious team where you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact and help shape the future of the business.
Alongside your responsibilities for Shack Events, you'll also take ownership of the monthly management accounts for On Tap Drinks, a growing drinks manufacturing business within the same group. This includes processing invoices, maintaining accurate financial records, completing month-end accounting tasks, producing the monthly management accounts and providing financial analysis and commercial insight. The role offers the opportunity to work across two ambitious businesses, supporting their continued growth and success.
We are looking for a commercially minded Management Accountant to lead the month-end finance process while partnering with operational teams to improve financial performance and drive continuous improvement.
Approximately 80% of the role is focused on management accounting, with the remaining 20% dedicated to commercial analysis, cost control, process improvement and business partnering. You'll manage a Finance Assistant and play a key role in developing an efficient, commercially focused finance function. This is a hybrid role, with 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting & Control
- Prepare accurate monthly management accounts, including journals, accruals, prepayments, stock accounting, fixed assets and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Complete bank reconciliations, VAT returns and payroll journals.
- Reconcile event sales across EPOS, operational and venue reporting systems.
- Raise customer invoices, calculate venue commissions and process commission payments.
- Investigate financial and operational variances, providing meaningful analysis and recommendations.
- Support with preparation of budgets and forecasts, monitoring performance against plan.
Commercial Finance & Business Partnering
- Analyse event, venue and departmental profitability.
- Produce insightful KPI reporting to support operational decision-making.
- Work closely with operations to ensure financial controls and processes are followed.
- Drive continuous improvement across finance systems, reporting and processes.
Payroll
- Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including new starters, leavers, tax code changes and other payroll amendments.
- Import, process and reconcile payroll for casual employees, ensuring accuracy and adherence to payroll deadlines.
- Prepare payroll reports and post payroll journals as part of the month-end process.
- Act as the first point of contact for payroll queries, working closely with the staffing team and employees to resolve issues promptly.
- Support continuous improvement of payroll processes and controls to ensure efficiency and compliance.
Team Management & Finance Operations
- Line manage and support the Finance Assistant, providing coaching, guidance and oversight of transactional finance activities.
- Review and oversee purchase ledger processing, ensuring accuracy and timely completion.
- Prepare and oversee supplier payment runs, employee expenses and business card administration.
- Support purchase ledger and wider finance activities during peak trading periods and annual leave to provide cover where required.
- Ensure finance queries from customers, suppliers and colleagues are resolved efficiently and professionally.
About You
You'll be a proactive finance professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced operational business and wants to make a real commercial impact.
Essential
- A minimum of AAT qualified, with demonstrable experience in a similar management accounting role.
- Experience producing full management accounts.
- Strong understanding of both P&L and balance sheet accounting.
- Payroll processing experience.
- Good Excel and analytical skills.
- Strong communication and business partnering skills.
- Experience working within a fast-paced SME.
- Highly organised, self-motivated and able to manage competing priorities.
Desirable
- Experience within hospitality, events, retail or other operational businesses.
- Experience using Xero and SAP.
- Stock accounting experience.
- Experience leading or mentoring junior finance staff.
What You'll Bring
- Confidence challenging existing processes and identifying efficiencies.
- High attention to detail and strong problem-solving ability.
- The ability to build relationships with both finance and operational teams.
- A hands-on approach with a willingness to support the wider teams during busy periods.
Pay: £45,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
- Work from home
Application question(s):
- Do you have at least 3 years of relevant experience?
- Have you had experience working within a fast paced / SME / busy environment?
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bromyard HR7 4LU
