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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Management Accountant

💰 $75,000 - $110,000

FinanceAccountingBusiness Analysis

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a highly analytical and commercially astute Management Accountant to become a vital part of our finance team. In this pivotal role, you will be more than just a number-cruncher; you will be a strategic business partner, transforming complex financial data into a compelling narrative that informs and guides senior leadership. You will be at the core of our financial planning, analysis, and reporting functions, responsible for delivering timely insights that directly impact business performance, efficiency, and growth. If you are a proactive problem-solver with a talent for connecting financial metrics to strategic objectives, we invite you to apply.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Financial Analyst
  • Staff Accountant / Junior Accountant
  • Accounts Assistant (with relevant qualifications)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Management Accountant
  • Finance Manager
  • Financial Controller

Lateral Moves:

  • Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Manager
  • Commercial Analyst / Business Analyst
  • Internal Auditor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Drive the end-to-end preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual management accounts, including P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow statements.
  • Lead the annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes, partnering with department heads to build robust, assumption-driven financial plans.
  • Conduct in-depth variance analysis of actual performance against budget and forecast, providing detailed written commentary on key drivers and trends.
  • Develop and maintain complex financial models to support strategic initiatives, investment appraisals, and long-range planning.
  • Analyze and report on business unit, product line, and customer profitability to support strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
  • Act as a key business partner to non-finance stakeholders, providing financial guidance and support to help them understand their departmental performance.
  • Perform detailed cost accounting analysis, including standard costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variance investigation.
  • Oversee month-end and year-end closing activities, including the preparation and posting of journals, accruals, and prepayments.
  • Prepare and present comprehensive financial reporting packages for senior management, highlighting key performance indicators (KPIs), risks, and opportunities.
  • Analyze capital expenditure requests (CapEx), performing ROI calculations and tracking project spending against approved budgets.
  • Continuously identify and implement improvements to financial processes, systems, and controls to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
  • Manage and reconcile balance sheet accounts, ensuring all items are properly substantiated and variances are resolved in a timely manner.
  • Monitor key working capital components, including inventory, debtors, and creditors, to optimize cash flow.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the annual external audit process by providing necessary documentation, schedules, and explanations for financial data.
  • Conduct ad-hoc financial analysis and scenario modeling to support commercial negotiations, pricing strategies, and special projects.
  • Assist in the development and tracking of strategic initiatives by creating and monitoring relevant financial metrics.
  • Contribute to the enhancement of financial systems (ERP) and business intelligence (BI) tools to streamline reporting and analysis.
  • Analyze and report on overheads and operational expenditures, identifying opportunities for cost-saving and efficiency gains.
  • Manage the fixed asset register, ensuring accurate recording of additions, disposals, and monthly depreciation calculations.
  • Provide financial data and analysis to support the preparation of statutory accounts and tax compliance filings.
  • Participate in cross-functional projects, offering financial expertise to ensure sound commercial outcomes.
  • Train and mentor junior finance team members on accounting principles and internal processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced Financial Modeling: Proven ability to build, maintain, and interpret complex, three-statement financial models in Microsoft Excel for budgeting, forecasting, and valuation purposes.
  • ERP Systems Proficiency: Hands-on experience with major ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or similar enterprise-level software.
  • Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Competency in using BI and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Looker) to create insightful dashboards and reports.
  • Management Accounting Expertise: Deep understanding of cost accounting, activity-based costing, standard costing, and variance analysis.
  • Advanced Excel Skills: Mastery of advanced Excel functions including PivotTables, VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, SUMIFs, and data tables for efficient data manipulation and analysis.
  • Accounting Principles: Strong knowledge of GAAP and/or IFRS, particularly as it applies to management reporting and internal controls.
  • Financial Reporting: Demonstrable experience in preparing comprehensive management reporting packs with insightful commentary for a senior audience.

Soft Skills

  • Commercial Acumen: The ability to understand the wider business context and apply financial insights to drive commercial success and strategic goals.
  • Stakeholder Management: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, communicate complex financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues, and influence decision-making.
  • Analytical & Critical Thinking: A sharp, analytical mindset with the ability to dissect complex problems, question assumptions, and provide data-driven recommendations.
  • Exceptional Attention to Detail: A commitment to accuracy and precision in all outputs, ensuring the integrity of financial data and reports.
  • Communication & Presentation Skills: The ability to articulate financial performance and insights clearly and concisely, both in writing and verbally, to audiences at all levels.
  • Proactive Problem-Solving: A self-starter attitude with the initiative to identify issues, investigate root causes, and propose effective solutions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Professional accounting qualification (CPA, CMA, CIMA, ACCA) completed or in the final stages of completion.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Business Administration or Economics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of progressive experience in an accounting or finance role, with specific exposure to management accounting, FP&A, or financial analysis.

Preferred:

  • Experience within a relevant industry (e.g., manufacturing, SaaS, retail, professional services) is highly desirable.
  • Proven track record of business partnering with operational and commercial teams.
  • Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
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