Management Accountant

A public sector organisation based in Oxford is seeking a Management Accountant who enjoys working collaboratively, supporting service managers, and contributing to strong financial governance.

You will provide high-quality, proactive financial support to service areas, helping managers understand and manage their budgets effectively while ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.

The role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with most time spent working from home. Attendance in Oxford will be required for team meetings, financial services away days, and occasional in-person meetings with budget holders. This is an initial 6-month contract role with an hourly rate up to £27 via an Umbrella company (PAYE option also available).

Key responsibilities

As a Management Accountant, you will:

• Provide day-to-day financial advice, guidance and training to cost centre managers
• Support budget monitoring, forecasting and variance analysis, enabling managers to take ownership of their budgets
• Process journals, accruals, budget virements and work-in-progress entries within the Financial Management System
• Work closely with Senior Management Accountants and Finance Business Partners in a matrix environment
• Attend regular meetings with service managers to discuss:
  • Budget performance and forecasts
  • Capital project progress
  • Establishment control
  • Financial process issues (including Procure-to-Pay and contracts)
• Produce robust forecasts and commentary for the monthly corporate reporting cycle, providing constructive challenge where required
• Maintain and improve the coding structure, workflows and reporting capability of the Financial Management System
• Design and produce financial reports for finance colleagues and service managers
• Contribute to the Annual Statement of Accounts, preparing evidence-based working papers
• Support corporate reporting, including monitoring corporate accounts, reserves and inter-company transactions
• Complete government returns (e.g. RO, QRO, RA)
• Contribute to process improvement and transaction automation, supporting continuous improvement across Financial Services

Who we're looking for

We are looking for someone who is customer-focused, organised and confident, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.

Essential criteria

• Part-qualified accountant or AAT qualified (or equivalent)
• Experience of financial planning, budget monitoring and forecasting within a large organisation
• Experience of training or explaining financial information to staff at different levels
• Ability to extract, analyse and interpret financial data, presenting it clearly and concisely
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, positive approach to work
• Ability to undertake financial modelling, evaluation and presentation of findings