Senior Accounts Manager

Senior Accounts Manager | Leeds, LS11 | Full Time | £40,000 - £45,000 per annum

Our client is a growing SME seeking an experienced Senior Accounts Manager to join its small but busy finance team. Working alongside an Accounts Assistant, you will play a key role in supporting the Directors and wider management team, ensuring the finance and commercial function operates efficiently within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

The Role

You will take ownership of the day-to-day finance function, overseeing and performing all aspects of the accounts department from transactional accounting through to management accounts preparation. Responsibilities include purchase and sales ledger, nominal ledger, VAT, payroll, imports, sales invoicing, supplier payments, credit control and financial reporting.

This is a hands-on role suited to an organised, detail-oriented finance professional who is experienced and confident working across the full finance and bookkeeping function while managing manual, multi-stage processes within a fast-paced SME environment.

As a senior member of the management team, you will contribute beyond the finance function, playing an active role in the day-to-day running of the business. You will work closely with the Directors, providing commercial and operational input, supporting strategic decision-making and stepping in to support other managers and business functions when required. This role requires a proactive, adaptable leader who is committed to the continued success and growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the accounts department through to management accounts, ensuring all daily, weekly and monthly tasks are completed to schedule.
• Manage and process all transactional accounting activities within a high-volume, fast-paced sales environment.
• Process purchase ledger, sales ledger and nominal ledger activities.
• Manage and process customer credits, refunds and adjustments as part of the returns process, ensuring accuracy, appropriate approvals and effective resolution of complex customer account queries.
• Perform daily and monthly bank reconciliations.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns.
• Process monthly payroll, PAYE and pension submissions.
• Manage supplier payments and proactively manage and process customer credit control activities.
• Process and manage import transactions and foreign exchange activities.
• Make informed commercial decisions regarding customer accounts, credit limits and financial risk.
• Work closely with the sales team, providing timely and accurate customer financial information to support and busy sales department deliver excellent customer service.
• Manage a busy inbox and customer communications, providing prompt, professional and accurate responses to customer queries while delivering excellent customer service and maintaining strong customer relationships.
• Work with external accountants to provide accurate management accounts information and provide financial reporting and analysis to support the Directors.
• Oversee the administration of Sage HR, ensuring employee records, holiday entitlements, leave requests and related HR information are accurate, compliant and kept up to date.
• Support managers with day-to-day people administration and HR processes, ensuring consistency, accuracy and confidentiality.
• Work closely with the Directors to maintain strong financial control and provide full visibility of all financial matters, ensuring accurate information, analysis and supporting documentation are available to enable informed decisions and Director sign-off.
• Ensure financial and administrative processes are followed consistently, accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Build strong relationships across all departments, acting as a trusted member of the management team and supporting colleagues throughout the business.
• Step up to provide management support and cover for other managers during periods of absence, annual leave or increased business demand, ensuring continuity of operations.
• Contribute to the wider running and success of the business, supporting operational and commercial activities as required.
• Support and implement wider business projects and initiatives as required.

Requirements

Essential

• Significant experience working within a fast-paced SME environment.
• Extensive experience using Sage 50 Accounts.
• Excellent understanding of all aspects of bookkeeping.
• Experience managing the full transactional accounting function within a high-volume environment.
• Strong working knowledge of VAT, payroll, PAYE, bank reconciliations and management accounts preparation.
• Experience and competency of processing import transactions and foreign exchange.
• Experience working with sales teams and making commercial decisions relating to customer accounts and credit management.
• Experience and confidence to work closely with business owners and senior managers.
• Proven ability to contribute as a senior member of an SME management team, supporting wider business operations beyond the finance function.
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to influence, support and collaborate with colleagues at all levels.
• Excellent organisational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand the detail behind the numbers and ensure accuracy throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Ability to multitask, prioritise effectively, work ahead of deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Trusted, approachable and dependable, with the ability to build strong working relationships across the business.
• Comfortable working with paperwork, supporting documentation and multi-stage finance processes.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision, taking ownership and accountability for your workload.
• Flexible and adaptable, with a willingness to step into wider operational and management responsibilities when required.
• Experience working within an owner-managed SME of a similar size.

What's In It For You?

• Bank holidays off
• Birthday holiday
• Bonus
• Healthcare
• Buy holiday scheme
• Free on-site parking

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