Management Accountant

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

R8591 Management Accountant

Permanent. Full Time.

Manchester £44,100 - £48,500

Hybrid, 2 days per week in the office (Monday and one other day)

Help shape financial decisions and drive continuous improvement across AQA.

As a fully qualified Management Accountant, you'll play a key role in the day-to-day operation of AQA's Financial Control team. You'll manage the financial information of some of our most complex divisions, working closely with finance colleagues to ensure accurate and timely reporting for stakeholders across the organisation.

You'll be a champion for continuous improvement, proactively identifying opportunities to enhance processes and ways of working across finance. You'll contribute to the management of the audit and accounts process, prepare financial statements for the group and subsidiaries and support a range of compliance-related activities. This role will provide you with the opportunity to become a well-rounded and experienced Finance and Accounting professional.

In this role, you'll:

• Support the preparation of group, subsidiary accounts and supporting schedules

• Manage sections of the audit, delivering timely responses and quality schedules and memos

• Produce accurate, timely month end management accounts for our largest and most complex business units

• Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations for large, complex accounts

• Support accurate subsidiary reporting and intercompany postings

• Support tax compliance, including VAT

• Support complex accounting transactions

• Train and guide junior colleagues

• Champion continuous improvement, leading your own projects and encouraging the team with theirs

• Work closely with other teams to align finance processes with organisational goals

• Champion AQA's values and behaviours in everything you do

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• Full qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent)

• Strong knowledge of audit, accounting, tax and accounting standards

• Detail focussed

• Strong stakeholder management, communication and mentoring skills

• Proven ability to interpret financial data to inform strategic decisions

• A step-up mindset: sound judgement with full accountability and ownership of your work

• A results focus: pragmatic decisions, delivered at pace

What's in it for you?

This is an opportunity to broaden your experience across financial reporting, audit, compliance and business partnering while contributing to an organisation with a clear social purpose.

• A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working

• 25 days' annual leave (rising to 30), plus Christmas closure days

• A generous pension scheme with combined contributions up to 18.5%, available from your first day

• BUPA healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities

• Being a part of AQA’s inclusive and values-led culture with the opportunity to join a variety of employee networks, including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity and Interfaith

• The opportunity to work closely with senior finance stakeholders

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

What's Next?

Please apply by submitting a copy of your CV and covering letter. Closing date for applications will be 23:59 on Sunday 22 November.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. Early application is encouraged.

Our interview process consists of two stages. The first stage will be a video interview via MS Teams on 26 November, followed by a face-to-face interview at our Manchester office on 2 December.

Recruitment Agencies
We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.
Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

#MCRE

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

About Us

AQA is an independent charity that sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A-levels in the UK every year. Our purpose is to advance education by helping students and teachers to realise their potential. As part of AQA, you’ll very quickly appreciate the determination and unwavering passion to deliver this goal in everything we do. To help drive these ambitions, AQA invests in the development of its people by offering a range of professional development and learning opportunities leading to over 50% of our permanent roles being filled internally.

Reasonable Adjustments

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the role, please contact the recruiter named in the vacancy advert or your interview correspondence. They will work with you to ensure the appropriate support is in place and that the process is as accessible and equitable as possible.

If you're unsure who your recruiter is, or can't reach them, contact Faye Harrison (she/her) at fharrison@aqa.org.uk or 07813 724161, and she'll direct you to the right person.

Please note that Faye cannot assist with temporary vacancy enquiries or non-recruitment matters. For temporary vacancies, contact temprecruit@aqa.org.uk.

Smart Working

We’re operating a smart working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.

Diversity and inclusion

AQA is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Conflict of Interest

Please note that due to the confidential nature of our work, we are unable to employ people for our temporary roles who are currently a candidate for Key Stage 4 and 5 public examinations.

Safeguarding

AQA is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk. We’re dedicated to reducing the risk of employing or contracting any person intent on abusing their position of trust, along with identifying and responding to any incident of alleged abuse from its employees or associates fairly and swiftly.

For more information on safeguarding at AQA please visit the AQA website here.

Contact

Temporary roles: temprecruit@aqa.org.uk
Permanent and Fixed Term roles: opportunities@aqa.org.uk