Job Title:  Management Accountant

Job Purpose

An excellent opportunity for a Management Accountant to join a well-established, exciting and growing Lithium-ion space business. The company designs, manufacturers and qualifies batteries for international space missions on satellites, launchers, and interplanetary vehicles.  The company’s customers include both national and international space agencies like NASA and European Space Agency as well as working across the commercial market supporting missions that include Earth observation, internet of things satellite constellations and global positioning systems.  The position is based in the Culham Science Centre near Abingdon in Oxfordshire and is a job that can truly impact people across the globe.

We are looking for a proactive and analytical Management Accountant to join our UK-based entity. This role is ideal for someone with a solid foundation in controlling and a passion for continuous improvement. As a key member of our finance team, you will be responsible for controlling and financial reporting activities, including month-end closing under US GAAP, forecasting and budgeting. You will also be responsible for Percentage of Completion (POC) accounting to provide timely financial insights to facilitate business growth.

Management accountants will also play a vital role in supporting the Financial Controller within Finance function and business partner with operations providing insights and KPIs for effective and timely decision making. The role requires effective interaction with several internal and external stakeholders including the audit function for timely financial statements submissions.

The ideal candidate combines strong analytical capabilities with excellent communication skills and is eager to grow in a dynamic, international environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Management accounting and business partnering

• Preparation of Monthly results pack for management to take corrective actions.
• General Ledger postings and balance sheet reconciliation using the SAGE ERP system.
• Posting of accruals, prepayments, intercompany expenses, fixed assets & inventory provisions.
• Supervise and guide the accounts assistants with the process of Order to cash and procure to pay.
• Preparation of weekly AR & WIP reporting to Group Credit Controller & FC.
• Partner with Sales & PMO to track project performance and maintain audit trail for contracts.
• Support the Sales team with cost run rates to be used for project cost and financials
• Weekly review of project invoicing milestones with PMs to ensure reduction in WIP
• Review payroll reports, perform checks and seek payroll approval from the Financial Controller.
• Maintain cash float and work with treasury to ensure appropriate funding for working capital.
• Monthly TB upload to Onestream consolidation tool and mapping of new GLs in SAGE to Onestream. 

Other key resposibilities

Reporting & process improvements

• Contribution to monthly group management accounts under US GAAP
• Improve financial processes, systems, and policies to ensure scalability, accuracy and availability of timely data to make the best business decisions.
• Support with financial input for preparation of company’s annual budget and monthly forecasts
• Bring best practice learnings, challenging the current methods and implemented automated solutions.
• Document processes in a standardised format, with guidance from the Financial Controller.
• Assist with implementation of SAGE ERP stock module for inventory management and cost control.

Internal controls, Tax, Compliance & Audit

• Preparation of comprehensive audit documentation and involvement in cooperation with auditors to enable timely submission of financial statements.
• Support Tax consultants with the R&D tax credit queries to ensure timely filing.
• Ensure accurate tax records are maintained and filed for VAT, GST, P11D, Income Taxes, Inward processing relief, payroll taxes, and engage with external advisors as required.
• Ensure Approvals matrix and group policies are complied with for all functions of the business

Ad hoc Support the Financial Controller with group reporting and Internal audit requests as required.

Qualifications & Skills required:

• At least least 5 years of relevant experience or equivalent
• Proficiency in Ms Excel
• Strong knowledge of SAGE 200 professional
• Knowledge of IFRS/US GAAP
• Qualified ACA/ ACCA/ CIMA is an asset
• Knowledge of POC (Percentage of Complete) accounting is an asset
• Prior experience in the manufacturing industry is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of financial analysis, budgeting, and reporting processes
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams
• Fluent in English
• Ability to travel (UK)
• BIG 4 audit background is an asset
• Hybrid work setup- minimum 3 days per week at Culham Site