Management Accountant

About Zest Media Zest Media is a growing UK publishing, media and digital marketing business working with hundreds of clients across our print, digital and marketing platforms. We are looking for an experienced Management Accountant to take ownership of our day-to-day finance function, produce accurate management information and work closely with the CEO to improve profitability, cash flow and the overall financial performance of the business. This is not simply a bookkeeping role. We want someone who understands the numbers, can explain what they mean commercially, identifies problems and opportunities, and helps management make better decisions as we grow and scale the company. The role will be based overseas and performed remotely, but the successful candidate must have strong experience working with UK companies and UK accounting requirements. Key Responsibilities Management Accounts & Financial Reporting Produce accurate and timely monthly management accounts, presented in a clear format that allows the CEO and management team to understand business performance. Profit & Loss Balance Sheet Cash flow reporting Budget vs actual performance Monthly and year-to-date comparisons Department/division performance where appropriate Revenue and gross margin analysis Overhead analysis Debtor and creditor reporting Key financial KPIs Commercial Finance & CEO Support Act as a financial partner to the CEO, interpreting results and using financial information to support better commercial decisions. Identify where the business is making and losing money Analyse the profitability of products and services Explain changes in margins, costs and cash flow Highlight opportunities to improve profitability Review unnecessary or inefficient expenditure Support pricing and commercial decisions Assess the financial implications of hiring and investment decisions Build models and forecasts to support growth and scaling Budgeting, Forecasting & Cash Flow Take ownership of budgeting and forecasting, proactively identifying potential cash flow issues and financial risks before they become problems. Annual budgets Rolling forecasts Monthly cash flow forecasts Revenue and cost forecasting Scenario planning Variance analysis UK VAT & HMRC Compliance The role supports a UK company, so strong practical knowledge of UK accounting requirements is essential. Prepare and submit UK VAT returns accurately and on time Maintain appropriate VAT records Ensure accounting records comply with UK requirements Manage relevant HMRC deadlines and submissions within the agreed scope of the role Maintain accurate records to support HMRC filings Liaise with external UK accountants where required Prepare schedules and information required for year-end accounts and corporation tax work Xero & Accounting Systems Strong practical experience with Xero is essential. The role will manage core accounting processes and help improve the finance function through better systems and automation. Bank reconciliations Sales and purchase invoices Accounts receivable and payable Journals, accruals and prepayments Fixed assets VAT Month-end processes Financial and management reporting Credit Control & Working Capital Maintain strong control over receivables and working capital, working with the wider team to improve collections and reduce overdue debt. Outstanding debtors and aged receivables Client payment performance Overdue invoices Supplier balances Working capital Financial Controls & Processes Help the finance systems and controls evolve as the company grows. Develop and document financial processes Improve month-end procedures Strengthen financial controls Reduce manual administration Automate repetitive finance tasks Improve reporting accuracy Identify opportunities for system integration Ensure financial information is properly maintained and auditable What We Are Looking For Essential Qualified, part-qualified or highly experienced Management Accountant At least 5 years of relevant accounting or finance experience Strong experience working with UK companies Good knowledge of UK accounting standards and practices Practical experience preparing and submitting UK VAT returns Strong understanding of HMRC requirements and deadlines relevant to the role Advanced practical experience using Xero Experience producing monthly management accounts Strong budgeting and forecasting skills Strong cash flow management and forecasting experience Excellent Excel / Google Sheets skills Strong understanding of P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Excellent attention to detail Strong written and spoken English Ability to work independently in a remote environment Comfortable communicating directly with a CEO and senior management Highly Desirable ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent accounting qualification Experience working remotely for a UK SME Experience within media, publishing, marketing, advertising or professional services Experience with businesses processing a high volume of invoices Experience improving finance processes and introducing automation Experience building financial models and management dashboards Experience supporting a business through a period of rapid growth The Person We Want Commercially minded - You understand that accounting is not just about recording what happened. The numbers should help us decide what to do next. Proactive - You identify issues rather than waiting for management to discover them. Analytical - You can investigate why revenue, costs, margins or cash flow have changed. Highly organised - VAT, HMRC, management accounts and other deadlines cannot be missed. Confident - You are comfortable discussing financial performance directly with the CEO. Independent - As a remote overseas team member, you can manage your responsibilities without constant supervision. Growth focused - You enjoy helping businesses improve systems, increase profitability and scale. What Success Looks Like Within the first 3-6 months, we would expect: Accurate monthly management accounts delivered consistently and on time VAT and relevant HMRC deadlines managed correctly and on time Clean and properly reconciled accounting records Reliable monthly cash flow forecasting Clear visibility of debtors and working capital Improved financial reporting for the CEO Budgets and forecasts that management can actively use Identification of opportunities to reduce costs or improve margins Improved financial controls and processes The CEO having significantly better financial information on which to make decisions Key Performance Indicators Management accounts completed by the agreed monthly deadline 100% on-time VAT and agreed HMRC submissions Bank and balance sheet accounts fully reconciled each month Accuracy of cash flow forecasts Reduction in overdue debtor balances Quality and usefulness of management reporting Budget vs actual reporting completed monthly Financial issues proactively identified and communicated Measurable improvements to finance systems and processes Why Join Us? This is an opportunity to become an important part of the management team of a growing UK media and marketing business. You will have direct access to the CEO and the opportunity to influence how the business operates and grows. For the right person, this role can develop beyond traditional management accounting into a broader Financial Controller / Head of Finance position as the company scales.