Job Overview
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join the finance team and play a key role in supporting the financial management, reporting and commercial decision-making of the business. This is a hands-on senior position suited to someone who has already operated at this level — either as a Senior Accountant within an operational business, or as second-in-command to a Finance Director in a larger organisation — and who is ready to bring independent thinking, technical rigour and commercial insight to the role.
The successful candidate will be proactive, commercially aware and genuinely engaged with the wider business. They will be expected to challenge constructively, analyse information effectively and contribute to continuous improvement, rather than simply process financial information.
Key Responsibilities
- Ownership of management accounts, budgeting and forecasting processes
- Production of accurate, timely financial reporting to support commercial decision-making
- Building and maintaining robust financial models and analysis in Excel
- Identifying financial and operational risks within the business and proposing practical solutions
- Supporting the Finance Director on strategic and commercial projects
- Managing and developing junior members of the finance team
- Liaising with budget holders and non-finance stakeholders across the business
- Continually reviewing and improving financial processes and controls
Experience & Qualifications
- Currently operating as a Senior Accountant in an operational business, or as deputy/second to a Finance Director in a larger business
- Typically, a minimum of 5 years’ experience operating at this level, although candidates with less experience may be considered where they can clearly demonstrate the required capability, judgement and progression
- Fully qualified ACCA, ACA or CIMA, or close to completing one of these qualifications, supported by a strong academic and professional track record
- Graduate calibre, with the ability to demonstrate strong analytical capability and sound commercial judgement
- A career history that demonstrates clear ownership, measurable achievement and progression in relevant finance roles
- Evidence of career progression and increasing responsibility, with the ability to show how previous roles have contributed to commercial and financial outcomes
- Excellent Excel skills, including the ability to build, audit and interrogate complex models and analysis. Practical capability in this area will be assessed as part of the interview process
- Experience of managing and developing staff
Personal Qualities
- Confident, articulate and comfortable discussing financial and commercial matters with clarity
- Able to think independently, analyse information carefully and bring a fresh perspective to business challenges
- Strong communicator, comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and non-finance colleagues
- Curious, commercially minded and motivated to understand the drivers of business performance
Before Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide:
- A full education history from A Level upwards, including dates of all professional exams taken and pass results at each attempt
- A summary of their Excel capabilities, with specific examples of models or analysis they have built
- Details of management experience: number of years, number of staff, and scope of responsibility
Candidates invited to interview will be expected to research the business in advance and come prepared to discuss the key risks and challenges they believe the business may face, together with how they would approach managing or mitigating those risks. The ability to form an informed, independent view will be an important part of the interview discussion.
Salary & Package
c. £55,000 to £60,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.
Pay: £55,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Hertford, Hertfordshire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Experience:
- Accounting: 5 years (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Either needed - ACCA, ACA or CIMA (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
