Senior Management Accountant

Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Salary: £45,000–£55,000 per annum
Job Type: Full-time, permanent
Reporting to: Financial Controller

About the Opportunity

We are working with a growing manufacturing business based in Stoke-on-Trent to recruit an experienced Senior Management Accountant to join its finance function.

This is an excellent opportunity for a fully qualified accountant with manufacturing experience who is looking to take on a broader, commercially focused role within a medium-sized business with ambitious growth plans.

Reporting directly to the Financial Controller, you will play a key role in delivering accurate and meaningful financial information, supporting operational decision-making and helping to strengthen financial processes as the business continues to expand.

Alongside taking ownership of management accounting and financial reporting, you will lead a small transactional finance team, providing guidance, coaching and mentoring to support their ongoing development.

This is a varied position combining technical accounting, commercial analysis, people management and continuous improvement, offering the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the development of the finance function.

The Role

As Senior Management Accountant, you will take ownership of the management accounting process while working closely with the Financial Controller to improve financial reporting, controls and business performance.

You will oversee and support the day-to-day activities of a small transactional finance team, helping to develop their skills, confidence and capabilities. You will also work with colleagues across the wider business to improve financial visibility, strengthen processes and support the company's growth ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

Management Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Prepare and deliver accurate monthly management accounts, ensuring reporting deadlines are consistently achieved.

• Produce detailed profit and loss reporting, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting financial analysis.

• Analyse financial performance against budgets, forecasts and prior periods, identifying trends, variances and opportunities for improvement.

• Provide clear financial commentary and insight to support business planning and decision-making.

• Assist with budgeting, forecasting and cash flow reporting.

• Maintain robust financial controls and ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial information.

• Support the Financial Controller with financial projects and the ongoing development of the finance function.

Manufacturing Finance & Cost Control

• Monitor and analyse manufacturing costs, margins and operational performance.

• Analyse stock valuations, inventory movements and cost variances.

• Work closely with operational teams to improve understanding of product costs, production performance and profitability.

• Support the review of overheads, labour costs, material costs and other key manufacturing expenses.

• Identify opportunities to improve cost control, efficiency and financial performance.

• Help ensure financial reporting accurately reflects the operational performance of the business.

Team Leadership, Coaching & Development

• Lead and support a small transactional finance team, overseeing day-to-day activities and helping ensure the smooth running of the finance function.

• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring and guidance to team members, supporting their professional development and helping them build their skills and confidence.

• Set clear expectations, encourage accountability and promote a collaborative, supportive team culture.

• Identify training and development needs, helping team members expand their knowledge and take on additional responsibilities.

• Support colleagues in improving the accuracy, efficiency and consistency of transactional finance processes.

• Encourage greater ownership, continuous learning and best practice across the team.

• Work closely with the Financial Controller to develop the capability of the wider finance function as the business grows.

Business Partnering & Process Improvement

• Work closely with the Financial Controller as a key member of the finance team.

• Build effective relationships with operational and departmental managers, providing financial information and commercial insight.

• Challenge variances and assumptions constructively, helping the business make informed decisions.

• Identify opportunities to improve reporting processes, systems and financial procedures.

• Support the introduction of more structured, scalable processes as the business continues to grow.

• Explore opportunities to use technology, automation and AI appropriately to improve efficiency, accuracy and reporting capabilities.

About You

We are looking for a commercially minded, fully qualified accountant who combines strong technical accounting knowledge with proven leadership ability and a proactive approach to business improvement.

You will ideally have:

• A recognised professional accountancy qualification: ACA, ACCA or CIMA.

• Proven experience in a Management Accountant or Senior Management Accountant position within a manufacturing or engineering environment.

• Strong technical knowledge of management accounts, month-end processes, balance sheet reconciliations and P&L reporting.

• A good understanding of manufacturing costs, stock accounting, inventory control and gross margin analysis.

• Experience supporting budgets, forecasts and financial performance analysis.

• Experience leading, supervising or developing a small transactional finance team.

• A genuine interest in coaching and mentoring colleagues, helping them develop their skills and progress professionally.

• The ability to interpret financial data and translate it into clear, practical business insight.

• Strong Excel and financial systems skills, with ERP or MRP systems experience beneficial.

• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work with stakeholders across the business.

• A proactive approach to identifying inefficiencies, improving processes and strengthening financial controls.

• The ability to work independently, manage priorities and meet reporting deadlines.

The Ideal Candidate

You will be someone who enjoys making a difference beyond simply producing the numbers. You will have the technical capability to deliver accurate financial reporting, combined with the commercial awareness to understand what the figures mean for the wider business.

You will be comfortable working in a growing manufacturing environment, taking ownership of your responsibilities and working closely with the Financial Controller as a trusted member of the finance team.

Just as importantly, you will enjoy leading and developing people. You will be approachable, supportive and confident in coaching a small transactional finance team, helping individuals build their knowledge, take on greater responsibility and reach their potential.

You will bring a proactive, improvement-focused mindset, looking for ways to streamline processes, improve reporting and help create a more structured and effective finance function.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Salary of £45,000–£55,000, depending on experience.

• Opportunity to join a medium-sized manufacturing business with ambitious growth plans.

• Direct reporting line to the Financial Controller.

• Leadership responsibility for a small transactional finance team, with scope to develop and mentor colleagues.

• Exposure to manufacturing performance, costing, stock and commercial decision-making.

• Opportunity to influence financial processes, reporting and the ongoing development of the finance function.

• A varied role combining technical accounting, commercial analysis, people development and continuous improvement.

• The opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a growing business.

Interested?

If you are a qualified accountant with manufacturing experience who is looking for a commercially focused role with genuine team leadership responsibility, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

Please contact Appointments Personnel to discuss the opportunity in more detail.