Management Accountant

Location: Urban Playground Head Office, Nottingham

The Management Accountant is a key member of the finance team, responsible for leading the preparation and analysis of management accounts, budgets, forecasts, and financial reports. The role acts as a management accountant to senior stakeholders, providing commercial insight and strategic financial support. It is ideal for a qualified or finalist accountant with strong analytical skills, commercial awareness, and experience in leading financial reporting processes.

• Lead the preparation of monthly and quarterly management accounts, ensuring accuracy and timeliness for a group of companies.
• Prepare detailed variance analysis and commentary against budgets and forecasts.
• Drive improvements in financial reporting and contribute to management decision-making through insightful analysis.

• Coordinate and lead the annual budgeting and reforecasting processes.
• Collaborate with department heads to challenge assumptions and ensure realistic forecasts.
• Develop and maintain financial models to support long-term planning and scenario analysis.

• Act as a finance business partner to operational and senior leadership teams.
• Provide financial insight and advice to support strategic initiatives, investment decisions, and performance improvement.
• Present financial information clearly and concisely to non-financial stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards (UK GAAP) and internal controls.
• Prepare and approve journals, intercompany reconciliations, month‑end schedules and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support statutory reporting and liaise with external auditors as needed.
• Mentor and support junior accountants or assistants within the finance team.
• Review work of team members and ensure adherence to deadlines and quality standards.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement in processes and reporting.

• Support strategic finance projects including system implementations, process automation, and cost‑saving initiatives.
• Provide financial due diligence and modelling support for business cases and potential acquisitions or investments.
• Support the financial controller with additional reporting when required.

• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with BI/reporting tools is a plus.
• High attention to detail with the ability to see the bigger picture.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.

• Fully qualified or finalist accountant (CIMA, ACCA, ACA).
• Proven experience in producing management accounts with excellent commentary, budgeting, forecasting, and business partnering roles.
• Strong understanding of accounting standards and financial controls.
• Experience with ERP/accounting systems is essential.