Management Accountant - ELS

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Management Accountant on a 6 month Fixed Term Contract.

You’ll support the Finance Manager and Support the Assistant Management Accountant in the preparation of the Accounting processes and cycle for our End of Life Services business.

• Free onsite parking
• 20% staff discount
• Health & dental cash plans
• 24/7 virtual GP & fitness discounts via Aviva Digicare+ Workplace
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life insurance & NEST pension
• Financial wellbeing tools & share incentive scheme
• Cycle-to-work & Electric Vehicle schemes
• Training & development opportunities

• Management Reporting:
  Own the monthly management accounts process for ELS Funeral Homes, including P&L preparation, variance analysis, cost of sales and overhead accruals and prepayments, and presentation of overall results to the ELS Financial Controller and Business Managers, ensuring accuracy, quality and adherence to deadlines.
• Sales and Performance Analysis:
  Prepare and circulate monthly confirmed sales reports, weekly ELS flash sales reports and funeral volume reconciliations to Fire Hawk Systems. Conduct monthly market share, volume and Funeral Home margin analysis to distinguish market movements from underlying business performance.
• Financial Reporting and Board Packs:
  Prepare monthly finance packs for selected business areas and the ELS Board Pack commentary for circulation to the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring timely, accurate and meaningful financial information.
• Budgeting and Forecasting:
  Support the ELS Financial Controller with annual budget preparation and draft budgets and quarterly reforecasts for the Crematoria and Natural Burial business areas for review by the ELS Finance Manager.
• Financial Control and Reconciliations:
  Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations for nominated accounts, monitor sales ledger balances and highlight risks. Maintain weekly Funeral Plan sales and redemption control accounts, manage credit notes and unbalanced accounts, and prepare and submit monthly Royal London payments.
• Systems and Data Integrity:
  Manage the weekly interface between funeral arrangement software and the Agresso ERP system, ensuring data accuracy and consistency and resolving product, arrangement and processing discrepancies. Provide regular Fire Hawk-related finance support to Funeral Homes, Support Centres and branches, coordinating resolution of issues with third-party suppliers.
• Transactional and Banking Support:
  Assist the Financial Processing Team Manager with reconciling and resolving DIDOS purchase invoice matching discrepancies, and liaise with the Banking Team to investigate and resolve receipt allocation queries.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  Liaise with colleagues across all ELS business areas to obtain accurate financial information within agreed timescales, circulate period-end management accounts, communicate reporting requirements and resolve related queries.
• Statutory Accounts and Audit:
  Prepare statutory accounts for a number of End of Life Services entities and support audit queries relating to the ELS business area, maintaining accurate financial records and appropriate financial controls.
• Team Support and Cover:
  Provide first-line support to the Assistant Management Accountant and cover their duties during periods of absence. Deputise for the ELS Financial Controller as required.
• Continuous Improvement:
  Undertake other relevant finance-related duties as required, identifying opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting efficiency and the quality of outputs.

• Near completion of CIMA or ACCA qualification
• Experience in preparing management accounts
• Supports and mentors junior team members
• Strong analytical skills, detail-oriented with a process-driven approach
• Proficient in Excel and generally strong IT skills
• Confident communicator, able to challenge and influence operational teams

We’re an independent Co-op, operating across the south of England running convenience food stores, funeral homes, crematoria, natural/woodland burial grounds and a Starbucks coffee franchise. We’re owned by our 300,000+ members, have over 4,000 colleagues and a purpose of working together for the benefit of our communities. We have a commitment to sustainable business and a promise to provide a fair, fresh approach, for all.

Become part of the family who are proud to serve local communities and put people first.