Job at a glance
The Management Accountant is responsible for producing accurate, timely management information for a defined area of the business, supporting the Senior Finance Manager in delivering monthly reporting, budgeting and forecasting, and acting as a trusted finance partner to non-finance stakeholders. The role sits one level below Senior Finance Manager and is expected to work with a good degree of autonomy, while escalating judgement calls and anything with a material impact on the numbers., Management accounts & reporting Prepare monthly management accounts for designated cost centres / business areas, to a defined timetable.
Post month-end journals (accruals, prepayments, provisions, depreciation) and maintain supporting schedules. Produce variance analysis against budget and prior year, with clear, business-friendly commentary on the drivers. Prepare and maintain balance sheet reconciliations for allocated accounts, resolving reconciling items promptly. Contribute commentary and schedules to the monthly board / senior management reporting pack.
Budgeting, forecasting & business partnering Support the Senior Finance Manager in producing the annual budget and periodic reforecasts for the relevant area. Business partner with buying, operations and store teams to explain performance and challenge cost assumptions. Provide ad hoc analysis and scenario modelling to support commercial and operational decisions. Track and report on relevant trading KPIs (e.g.
margin, cost ratios, stock/wastage) for the area of responsibility. Controls, compliance & process Maintain and evidence internal controls over transactions and balances within area of responsibility. Support the year-end audit, including preparation of schedules and responses to auditor queries. Assist with VAT, tax and other statutory returns as required, working with the wider finance team.
Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy of reporting. People & team Where applicable, provide day-to-day guidance and review of work produced by an Assistant Accountant or Finance Assistant. Act as deputy to the Senior Finance Manager for routine matters during periods of absence, as required. Support the induction and training of new finance team members.
Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent), or qualified by experience with a strong track record. Previous experience in a management accounting or finance business partnering role. Strong Excel skills, including experience working with large datasets and building/maintaining reporting templates. Experience using an accounting/ERP system to produce management information. Confident communicator, able to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
High attention to detail and comfortable working to firm monthly deadlines. Able to prioritise a varied workload and use initiative to resolve issues. Desirable Experience within a retail, multi-site or FMCG environment. Experience supervising or reviewing the work of a junior team member. Exposure to stock, margin or store-level trading analysis. Key competencies Analytical thinking - gets under the numbers to understand what is driving performance.
Communication - tailors financial messages to the audience, written and verbal. Ownership - takes responsibility for the accuracy and timeliness of own work. Collaboration - builds effective working relationships across finance and the wider business. Continuous improvement - looks for better, more efficient ways of working. Established in 1981 Poundstretcher is a leading variety discount retailer for quality food, toiletries, garden essentials, and home-ware brands.
Offering over 5,000 products at some of the lowest prices on the high street, Poundstretcher stores provide shoppers with an incredible selection of value for money items. With over 400 stores nationwide across our brands, Poundstretcher stocks a huge selection of great value products at competitive prices, including