Senior Finance Manager

Wickes is recruiting for an experienced Senior Finance Manager to join our Fixed Assets team on a permanent basis!

To be responsible for the end-to-end accounting, reporting and forecasting processes for the Group’s lease portfolio and fixed assets, and act as the subject matter expert on technical accounting matters related to our store and supply chain estate.

What you’ll be doing:

Provide robust financial reporting, accounting and forecasting for the full lifecycle of leases and fixed assets held within the business under both IFRS and FRS 102 (UK GAAP) requirements.

Managing the period end financial accounting entries, reconciliations and variance analyses for assigned balance sheet accounts within strict deadlines.

Communicating technical accounting treatments for lease and/or fixed asset transactions to senior stakeholders in the business (financial and non-financial) to support business decision making.

Working with the business to ensure that the lease management software and the fixed asset register provide a true and accurate reflection of leases and fixed assets held.

Ensuring a robust control environment, identifying risks and implementing process/control improvements to safeguard company assets, ensuring that capital projects are tracked accurately and capital vs. revenue expenditure is correctly classified.

Manage, mentor, and develop a team of 3, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.

Build and maintain strong relationships with the Operations Finance team and the business owners of leases.

Ensuring specific lease and business rates payments are thoroughly reviewed and then made on time.

What we’re looking for:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA) with 3+ years PQE
• Broad finance experience, with ability to review or, where required, prepare period end entries and reconciliations
• Strong working knowledge of IFRS, specifically IFRS 16 (Leases) and IAS 16 (Property, Plant and Equipment)
• Ability to identify control weaknesses and propose suitable improvements to existing processes
• Presenting complex financial accounting concepts to senior stakeholders, and preparation of associated accounting memos suitable for Audit Committee
• Proven experience of managing, coaching, and reviewing the work of junior finance team members (both qualified and part qualified)
• Ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and present the impacts of technical accounting treatments to senior stakeholders (both finance and non-finance)
• A controls mindset to enhance the integrity of accounting for leases, fixed assets and property as the business implements its strategic initiatives
• A rigorous approach to accuracy and reconciliation in a time-pressured environment, suitable for a listed regulatory environment
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships across the business, delivering outputs within tight deadlines
• Well organised with the ability to prioritise and delegate work effectively.
• Hard working and proactive
• Enthusiastic and inquisitive
• Experience of accounting for lease agreements (IFRS 16) and fixed assets (IAS 16)
• Able to operate in a fast paced environment
• Capable of providing drive to the team and bringing passion to the role
• Proficiency in MS Office/Google with excellent Excel/Google Sheets skills

If you had these preferred skills it would be a bonus:

• Experience of applying these within a UK-listed PLC, ideally in Retail, Hospitality, or Logistics, dealing with high-volume asset portfolios
• Experience with large ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and lease management software (e.g., IRIS, MRI)
• An awareness of FRS 102 accounting for leases

What can we offer you?

You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us. We also have an early careers network to support you if you’re in your first few years of your career.

We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:

• Competitive bonus
• Private Medical and Life Assurance
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme

Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support.

By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you. We are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day.

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