Finance Manager

Job Title: Finance Manager

Location: Bristol

Package: £45k - £55k

Reporting to: Managing Director

Job Type: Full-Time

Our Client

Our client is a profitable, growing SME based in North Bristol.

They are looking for an experienced Finance Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the finance function and provide high-quality financial information to support the Managing Director and wider business.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a hands-on SME environment and is looking for a broad role with responsibility across management accounting, financial control, cash flow, budgeting and reporting.

Working closely with the Managing Director, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a genuine impact by improving financial processes and reporting and providing useful commercial insight as the business continues to develop.

Finance Manager - The Role

As Finance Manager, you will be responsible for the effective day-to-day management of the finance function, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting and maintaining robust financial controls.

The role combines hands-on accounting with management reporting and commercial analysis. You will work closely with the Managing Director, providing clear financial information to support decision-making across the business.

You will need to be comfortable operating in an SME environment and willing to take ownership of a broad range of finance responsibilities, from detailed accounting and reconciliations through to budgeting, forecasting and management information.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts.
• Prepare and monitor budgets, forecasts and cash flow projections.
• Produce clear and commercially relevant management information for the Managing Director.
• Provide analysis and insight into business performance, highlighting trends, risks and opportunities.
• Maintain balance sheet reconciliations and ensure control accounts are accurate and up to date.
• Prepare and maintain accruals and prepayments schedules.
• Manage VAT returns and support the effective management of tax, payroll and treasury matters.
• Monitor cash flow and working capital requirements.
• Manage stock takes and ensure accurate stock accounting and reporting.
• Maintain and improve financial systems, processes and internal controls.
• Coordinate the preparation of statutory accounts and provide information required by external accountants and auditors.
• Build effective working relationships with external stakeholders including accountants, auditors, banks and HMRC.
• Support the Managing Director with ad hoc financial analysis and business improvement projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, accuracy and quality of financial reporting across the business.

The Successful Applicant

You will be an experienced finance professional with a strong grounding in management accounting and financial control, ideally gained within an SME environment.

You may be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA), part-qualified, or qualified by experience with a demonstrable track record of successfully managing a broad finance remit.

This role would suit someone who enjoys taking ownership of the finance function and working closely with senior management, while remaining comfortable with the hands-on aspects of day-to-day accounting.

As Finance Manager, you will bring:

• Strong management accounting and financial reporting experience.
• A hands-on and detail-focused approach with a high level of accuracy.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management.
• Good understanding of balance sheet controls, VAT and financial processes.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to interpret financial information and communicate the key messages clearly.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with accounting and financial reporting systems.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work closely with the Managing Director and colleagues across the business.
• Experience of improving financial processes, controls and reporting.
• A proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and take ownership of deadlines in a busy SME environment.
• The ambition and potential to progress into a Finance Director role as the business continues to grow and evolve.

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