The Role
Supports management accounting, month-end journals, reconciliations, management accounts, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, reporting packs, audits, financial controls, and process improvement. The role also partners with operational managers, provides financial insight, maintains forecasting models, and supports accurate, timely reporting across the business. It is hybrid, requiring weekly travel to the Norwich office and occasional travel to London.
Summary Generated by Built In
Join Newsquest, one of the UK's largest and most successful local media organisations, reaching millions of readers every month through our trusted newspapers, websites and digital marketing solutions. As part of our Finance team, you'll play a key role in supporting the delivery of accurate financial reporting, forecasting and analysis that helps drive business performance across the organisation.
Reporting to the Financial Controller and working within a wider finance function, you'll assist in the production of management information, provide valuable insight into financial performance, and support operational managers in achieving business objectives while maintaining robust financial controls.
This is a hybrid role, with travel to our Norwich office approximately once per week. We also have offices in Basildon, Colchester and Ipswich, which may provide additional flexibility depending on your location and business requirements. In addition, we have a Central London office in Holborn, where occasional team or business meetings may be held, requiring infrequent travel as needed.
This opportunity would suit an ambitious finance professional who enjoys working collaboratively, analysing financial data, influencing decision-making and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives within a dynamic and evolving business.
Key Responsibilities
Management Accounting & Reporting
- Prepare and post month-end journals, including accruals, prepayments and cost reallocations.
- Support the production of monthly management accounts and associated commentary.
- Prepare reporting packs and key performance indicators for management review.
- Complete detailed variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior year performance.
- Assist with year-end schedules, reconciliations and audit requirements.
- Prepare weekly profit forecasts using submissions from Commercial Directors and operational teams.
- Review financial submissions, challenge assumptions where appropriate and investigate variances.
- Support the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts.
- Maintain forecasting and budgeting models.
- Analyse trends and provide meaningful insight into financial and operational performance.
- Assist budget holders with forecasting, planning and cost management activities.
- Build strong relationships with managers and stakeholders across the business.
- Support operational teams by providing timely and accurate financial information.
- Develop a detailed understanding of departmental and operational cost drivers.
- Monitor costs and identify unusual movements, trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Produce regular and ad hoc reporting to support business decision-making.
- Ensure financial records are maintained in line with company policies and accounting standards.
- Prepare and maintain balance sheet reconciliations, resolving outstanding items promptly.
- Support internal and external audit requirements.
- Help maintain strong financial controls and governance processes.
- Identify areas of risk and recommend improvements to controls and procedures.
- Ensure reporting deadlines are consistently achieved with a high degree of accuracy.
- Identify opportunities to improve reporting efficiency, accuracy and automation.
- Support the implementation of new systems and reporting tools.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the finance function.
- Assist in the development of standard operating procedures and process documentation.
- Provide support to colleagues within the wider finance team.
- Undertake ad hoc projects, analysis and reporting as required.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Part-qualified (ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
- Previous experience working within a management accounting or assistant accountant role.
- Strong understanding of month-end processes, journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
- Experience producing management information, financial analysis and reporting.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
- Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large volumes of data.
- Ability to interpret financial information and communicate findings clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Proactive and collaborative approach with excellent communication skills.
- Experience working within a multi-site or fast-paced commercial environment.
- Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling.
- Experience supporting audits and maintaining financial controls.
- Exposure to reporting systems and finance automation projects.
- Experience using ERP or finance systems such as Oracle, SAP, NetSuite or similar.
- Commercially aware and driven to understand business performance.
- Curious, inquisitive and confident challenging assumptions.
- Adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment.
- Team-oriented with a positive and professional attitude.
- Committed to continuous learning and personal development.
If you're looking to develop your finance career within a well-established, forward-thinking media business where your work will directly influence decision-making and performance, we'd love to hear from you.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
- Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
- Structured career progression & ongoing training
- Pension plan
- Employee Helpline counselling and advice
- Perks & discounts including:
- Gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care
- Retail discounts
- Team building days & annual volunteer charity day
About
A name you can trust - we’ve been a part of your community for generations.LOCALiQ is the name for all that Newsquest Media Group does today, from trusted local newspapers and websites to digital marketing services that can help you reach new customers as you’ve never been able to before.LOCALiQ is the name that combines your trusted local news brand with digital marketing.It hasn’t replaced the name of your local Newsquest newspaper and its website, but it encompasses everything we can offer.Those services include online advertising and best-in-class digital marketing, backed by data gathered from our 1.5 million local campaigns and 45 million monthly users.Put our experts to work for you, and we believe you’re hiring the best marketing partner a business can have.
Skills Required
- Part-qualified ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent, or qualified by experience
- Previous experience in management accounting or an assistant accountant role
- Strong understanding of month-end processes, journals, accruals, prepayments, and reconciliations
- Experience producing management information, financial analysis, and reporting
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
- Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large volumes of data
- Ability to interpret financial information and communicate findings clearly to non-finance stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Proactive, collaborative approach with excellent communication skills
- Experience in a multi-site or fast-paced commercial environment
- Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling
- Experience supporting audits and maintaining financial controls
- Exposure to reporting systems and finance automation projects
- Experience using ERP or finance systems such as Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, or similar
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The Company
What We Do
We are a media company with a difference. We are committed to bringing a voice to your region by investing in a passionate team of journalists who proudly serve their communities by sharing authoritative news that readers trust. Our sales teams provide local businesses with highly responsive digital advertising and marketing solutions. We are one of the largest regional news publishers in the UK and have a portfolio of more than 250+ local news brands and magazines online and in print. With an online audience of 41 million users a month and 7 million readers a week in print, our content is read by a substantial proportion of the UK population. In addition to our local news brands, we own a number of digital pure play and specialist media businesses such as s1jobs and s1homes, Exchange & Mart, and Newsquest Specialist Media. We also own LOCALiQ, an award-winning digital marketing agency that specialises in driving more leads, increasing online growth and generating return on marketing investment on behalf of thousands of UK SMBs. Our parent company is Gannett Inc, the largest news publisher in the US. Gannett is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
