Management Accountant

Location: Sunderland
Salary: £40,000-£45,000 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: Temporary or permanent
Hours: Ideally full-time, with part-time options considered
Reporting to: Finance Director
Working arrangement: Office-based

The Opportunity

We are working with an established and growing UK manufacturing business seeking a hands-on Management Accountant to join its close-knit finance team.

The business designs and manufactures specialist engineered vessels and storage solutions for international markets, including energy, industrial gases, healthcare, scientific research, offshore and aerospace.

Following significant growth, the business is continuing to invest in its finance function, systems and reporting processes. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, you will take ownership of key management accounting activities while contributing to process improvement, systems transformation and commercial decision-making.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional looking to broaden their skills, take on greater responsibility and gain exposure to a major finance systems implementation.

The business is open to temporary and permanent appointments and will consider part-time candidates, although five days per week is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts, including reconciliations, financial reporting and variance analysis.
• Analyse gross margins, manufacturing costs and profitability, identifying trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and cash flow reporting.
• Assist with statutory accounts preparation and liaise with external accountants and auditors.
• Provide oversight of payroll processes and ensure appropriate financial controls.
• Support wider finance activities, maintaining accurate financial information and reporting.
• Review existing processes, identify inefficiencies and implement improvements.
• Improve management reporting, financial controls and the quality of financial analysis.
• Work closely with the Finance Director and operational teams to support business performance and decision-making.
• Support the transition from Sage 200 to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, with implementation planned for February 2027.
• Explore opportunities to improve reporting and efficiency through automation, AI and tools such as Power BI.

About You

We are looking for a proactive and commercially minded finance professional who enjoys working with detail while identifying opportunities to improve processes.

You may already be a Management Accountant, or an experienced Assistant Management Accountant or finance professional ready to take the next step.

You will ideally have:

• Experience of month-end processes, management accounts and financial reporting.
• Strong analytical skills, including variance analysis and gross margin reporting.
• Good Excel skills and confidence using accounting systems.
• An interest in systems development, process improvement and automation.
• The ability to work independently, manage priorities and take ownership of responsibilities.
• A positive, outgoing and collaborative approach.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Desirable experience:

• Experience in manufacturing, engineering or a similar operational business.
• Familiarity with Sage 200 or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
• Exposure to ERP implementation or finance systems transformation.
• Experience with Power BI, reporting automation or AI tools.
• Progress towards an accountancy qualification, such as ACCA, CIMA or ACA.

Full qualification is not essential. The business is supportive of professional development and can offer assistance with further accountancy studies.

Salary and Benefits

• £40,000-£45,000 annual salary for a permanent appointment, depending on experience.
• Nine-day fortnight, with every other Friday finishing at 1:30 pm.
• Company pension scheme.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Company bonus scheme offering up to 5% of annual salary, subject to company performance.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Health and wellbeing programme.
• Death in Service benefit.
• Professional development and qualification support.
• Free on-site parking.

Working Pattern

The role is ideally suited to someone available five days per week, although applications from candidates seeking approximately 30 hours across three days will be considered.

The position is office-based, with no fixed working-from-home arrangement. However, the business offers a supportive and flexible culture that recognises employees' personal and family commitments.

An immediate start is preferred, with the opportunity to join ahead of the current interim support finishing at the beginning of December.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a growing manufacturing business where you can make a tangible contribution to the finance function. You will work closely with the Finance Director, gain hands-on exposure to a major systems implementation and help shape improvements across reporting, processes and automation.

The role would suit someone with solid technical accounting skills, a practical mindset and the ambition to develop their career within a supportive and evolving business.

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