Accountant

Location: Wirral
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 per annum
Contract: 12 month contract and may go permanent

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Accountant to join a successful and well-established business that forms part of a larger international group. This is a varied, hands-on role that combines responsibility for payroll with key financial accounting duties, offering the opportunity to make a genuine impact within the finance function.

You will take ownership of a broad range of accounting responsibilities, ensuring accurate reporting and supporting the smooth running of the finance department.

This role would suit a proactive finance professional who is comfortable balancing operational responsibilities with continuous improvement initiatives and enjoys working collaboratively across the wider business.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely processing.
• Manage invoice finance and monitor cash flow.
• Prepare quarterly management accounts.
• Produce monthly management information, including statistics, cash flow forecasts and Profit & Loss reports.
• Prepare year-end statutory accounts and liaise with external auditors.
• Complete month-end journals, including accruals and prepayments.
• Perform balance sheet reconciliations and investigate variances.
• Complete bank reconciliations.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns.
• Process supplier and other business payments.
• Manage daily cash receipts.
• Review supplier invoices before passing them to the Accounts team for processing.
• Resolve Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable queries, including statement reconciliations.
• Support budgeting and financial planning activities.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure compliance with internal controls.
• Identify opportunities to improve finance processes and support continuous improvement initiatives.

About You

We're looking for an experienced finance professional with strong payroll expertise and a hands-on approach to financial accounting.

You will have:

• Previous experience in a Financial Accountant, Payroll Manager, Finance Manager or similar senior finance role.
• Extensive payroll experience, including pension administration and compliance.
• Experience preparing management accounts and month-end reporting.
• Strong reconciliation skills and an excellent understanding of financial controls.
• The ability to prioritise workloads and meet reporting deadlines.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Sage Payroll experience (desirable).
• Sage 50 Accounts experience (essential).
• Intermediate Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP and data analysis.
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation, pensions and finance processes.
• High level of accuracy with excellent attention to detail.

Desirable

• AAT qualified, part-qualified or qualified ACCA/CIMA, or qualified by experience.
• Experience working within a multi-site or international group environment.
• Previous involvement in finance systems or process improvement projects.

What's on Offer

• Salary of £40,000 - £45,000, depending on experience.
• Temporary to permanent opportunity with excellent long-term prospects.
• The opportunity to lead meaningful payroll and finance process improvements.
• A broad, varied role with autonomy and responsibility.
• A supportive working environment within a stable business that is part of a larger international group, offering long-term career development and progression opportunities.