Senior Finance and Reporting Accountant

Role Overview

The Learning Experience (TLE) is one of the fastest-growing early years education providers in the US, and through its Banana Moon brand, has an established and growing presence in the UK. We are looking for a Senior Finance & Reporting Accountant to be based at Banana Moon HQ in Warwick, providing financial accounting, reporting, and business partnering support across our UK business — spanning Banana Moon franchised and corporate nurseries as well as the four TLE-operated centres in the UK.

This is a hands‑on role suited to a commercially minded accountant who is comfortable working in a transatlantic business structure, can manage month‑end independently, and has the communication skills to liaise between UK operations and US finance leadership. You will report to senior finance leadership and play a key role in building out the financial rigour of our growing UK business.

• Lead the monthly close process for UK entities, including journal entries, accruals, and general ledger maintenance
• Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations and bank reconciliations
• Prepare management accounts and financial reporting packs for UK operations
• Perform variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior periods, with clear commentary for non-finance stakeholders; track key financial and operational KPIs on a monthly basis to support performance management and early identification of emerging risks
• Maintain accurate records in line with UK GAAP (FRS 102) and support compliance with HMRC obligations including VAT returns
• Assist with year‑end statutory accounts preparation and support the external audit process

• Collaborate with the US finance team to consolidate UK financial results into the group reporting structure
• Produce UK financial reporting in formats compatible with US corporate requirements and timelines
• Act as a key point of contact for the US finance team on UK accounting matters, supporting alignment between UK GAAP and US GAAP where required
• Participate in cross‑border finance initiatives, process improvement projects, and system development

• Support financial performance analysis of the Banana Moon franchise network
• Review financial information submitted by UK franchise centres and ensure consistency with reporting standards
• Support the internal franchise team across all departments with accounting and finance queries, including budgeting, VAT, and expense management

• Own the annual budgeting and rolling forecast process for UK entities, coordinating inputs across operations, headcount, and occupancy costs, and delivering a consolidated view aligned to Group timelines
• Build and maintain dynamic financial models to support scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and strategic decision‑making across the UK business
• Develop and maintain forecast assumptions, documenting key drivers and ensuring alignment between actuals, short‑term forecast, and long‑range plan
• Act as a primary business partner to UK operational leadership, translating financial performance data into clear, decision‑ready insights and actionable commentary
• Coordinate with US Group headquarters on UK planning submissions, ensuring forecast deliverables meet corporate requirements for consolidation and Board‑level reporting
• Monitor performance against budget and forecast on an ongoing basis, proactively flagging risks and opportunities and recommending corrective actions to UK and Group management

• Partner with UK operations, HR/People, and payroll teams to support accurate payroll accounting and cash management
• Work closely with the UK People & HR team on headcount reporting and labour cost analysis
• Support the preparation of audit schedules and respond to internal and external audit requests
• Work with accounts receivable and accounts payable functions to support timely month‑end cut‑off, reconciliation of intercompany balances, and resolution of aged items

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline
• ACA, ACCA,…