Assistant Management Accountant

Assistant Management Accountant

Northwich | £35,000 + Study Support

The Role

Sowena Group are exclusively partnered with a growing, multi-site manufacturing business in their search for an Assistant Management Accountant to join their finance team.

Operating within the FMCG sector, the business supplies branded and own-label bakery products to some of the UK's largest supermarkets and food service providers. Following recent investment and acquisition by a large, established food group, the business is entering an exciting period of development, with further growth planned across its three manufacturing sites.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone early in their finance career who is looking to build their technical and commercial understanding within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Working closely with an experienced finance team, you'll gain exposure to weekly reporting, product costing, production analysis, cash flow forecasting and month-end processes, developing a strong understanding of how finance supports the wider operation.

The role would suit someone studying towards CIMA or ACCA, with an AAT or graduate background, who is keen to learn, naturally curious and interested in understanding how a manufacturing business operates beyond the numbers. There is a strong emphasis on mentoring, professional development and providing broader exposure as your experience grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare weekly profit and loss accounts, providing insight into business performance.

• Produce daily and weekly sales reporting and commercial analysis.

• Support weekly cash flow reporting and forecasting.

• Analyse production output, including production volumes and valuations.

• Develop an understanding of production expenditure and its impact on gross margin.

• Assist with product costing and analysis.

• Support the month-end process, including journals, reconciliations and balance sheet preparation.

• Assist with tracking and maintaining purchase orders.

• Prepare and submit financial results through the group's reporting database.

• Use SAP and Power BI to extract, analyse and present financial information.

• Work alongside colleagues across finance and operational departments to understand performance and investigate variances.

• Identify and flag discrepancies or unusual movements within financial and operational information.

• Contribute to wider finance projects and take on additional responsibilities as your experience develops.

Requirements

• Some previous experience within a finance or accounting role.

• Currently studying towards CIMA or ACCA, AAT qualified or a relevant finance graduate.

• Good Excel skills and confidence working with financial information.

• Experience using Power BI would be advantageous.

• Exposure to SAP or another ERP system would be beneficial.

• An interest in manufacturing, FMCG or operational finance would be advantageous, although not essential.

• Good attention to detail and the confidence to question information where something doesn't look right.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with colleagues outside of finance.

Personal Attributes

• Naturally curious, with an interest in understanding how a business operates.

• Proactive and keen to take ownership of tasks.

• Comfortable asking questions and investigating discrepancies.

• Commercially minded, with an interest in understanding the story behind the numbers.

• Organised and able to manage competing priorities in a busy environment.

• A team player who enjoys working collaboratively with different departments.

• Motivated to learn, develop and progress within a growing business.

Package & Benefits

• Salary of £35,000, with some flexibility depending on experience.

• Study support towards professional qualifications.

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.

• Company pension with 4% employer contribution.

• Hybrid working, typically 3-4 days per week on site.

• Access to company shop and free products.

• Excellent mentoring and development opportunities within an established finance team.

With the backing of a much larger group, ambitious growth plans and the opportunity to work closely with both finance and operational teams, this is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to develop their career and build a strong foundation in manufacturing and commercial finance.