Artefact is a global consulting and technology company that helps organisations accelerate data and AI-driven transformation. In the UK, we work with leading clients across industries, supported by a strong senior leadership team and a growing market presence.
We’re looking for a high-potential Senior Management Accountant to take real ownership of the day-to-day running of our UK Finance function.
Reporting to the Head of Finance, you’ll be the central operational and analytical point in the team: Coordinating and reviewing the Accounts team, owning core reporting and forecasting processes, solving day-to-day Finance issues and providing commercial analysis and challenge to the business. You’ll also work closely with Group Finance and other internal and external stakeholders.
You’ll own routine Finance matters end to end, with the Head of Finance involved on material or strategic issues.
This is a broad and fast-moving role by design. You’ll be given meaningful responsibility from the outset, work closely with the Head of Finance and senior firm leadership, and have the opportunity to expand your remit as you demonstrate your capability.
Your responsibilities will include:
● Reporting and FP&A: Own management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and supporting analysis, explaining movements and identifying forward-looking risks and opportunities.
● Commercial Finance: Analyse and challenge revenue, gross margin, staffing, pipeline, contract status, unbilled work and profitability, turning financial information into clear insights
and recommendations.
● Accounts team: Be the day-to-day point of contact and first review layer for the Accounts team, coordinating priorities, reviewing outputs and resolving first-line queries.
● Accounting, tax and compliance: Coordinate and review month-end, year-end, audit, routine tax and other recurring Finance processes, including journals, reconciliations, intercompany and payroll-related accounting, working with the Accounts team and external advisers to ensure outputs are complete, accurate and delivered on time.
● Cash, working capital and banking: Oversee cash flow, working capital, customer invoicing, aged debtors, supplier payments, payment runs and routine banking matters
including KYC and mandates.
● Tooling and data quality: Own and improve key Finance systems and reporting tools, including Salesforce, Everwin, Sage and Finance dashboards, ensuring data is accurate,
consistent and useful for decision-making.
● Continuous improvement: Identify and drive opportunities to improve Finance processes, controls and ways of working through better process design, automation and technology,
including effective use of AI tools where appropriate.
● Problem-solving and ownership: Take routine Finance matters through to resolution using judgement and initiative. Material or strategic issues should be escalated with a clear
assessment and recommendation.
● Wider ownership: Take on additional Finance responsibilities and projects as the needs of the business and Finance function evolve.
This role is a great opportunity for someone with established accounting and finance experience, with the ambition to grow their skills and shape their own role. We are looking for someone who will not only deliver established processes, but will also identify areas for improvement and proactively progressively take ownership of a wider range of Finance activities.
Requirements:
We are looking for potential, mindset and learning ability, rather than someone who has already performed every aspect of the role.
● Part-qualified or qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or equivalent practical experience, with around 3 to 4 years’ relevant experience in accounting, audit, FP&A, commercial Finance
or a similar area.
● Strong accounting fundamentals and advanced Excel / Google Sheets skills.
● Proactive and comfortable being given an objective rather than a checklist: you identify what needs doing, decide how best to approach it and take work through to completion.
● Analytical and commercially curious, adept atinterested in explaining what the numbers mean, not simply producing them.
● Comfortable getting into the detail and solving problems you may not have encountered before.
● Able to work at pace, manage competing priorities and reprioritise quickly as business needs change, while continuing to progress work where there is no externally imposed deadline.
● A clear communicator who is comfortable working with both junior colleagues and senior stakeholders.
● Comfortable learning new systems and interested in using automation, AI and technology-enabled Finance to improve how work is done.
This is a step up in breadth and responsibility for someone ready to move beyond a more traditional Finance role. Experience coordinating or reviewing the work of a small team is useful, but formal people-management experience is not required.
The contract:
This is a 4-month FTC, with the clear intention of moving to a permanent role where there is a strong mutual fit. We will review permanent conversion during the contract, and we are open to converting early where the fit and performance are clear.
The successful candidate will be given meaningful responsibility from the outset rather than being treated as short-term support during the fixed-term period.
What you’ll get:
● Broad exposure across accounting, FP&A, commercial Finance, forecasting, cash management, systems, process improvement and business partnering.
● Close working with the Head of Finance and senior management.
● Significant responsibility and visibility from an early stage.
● Increasing ownership as you demonstrate your capability.
● The opportunity to build a broad Finance skillset in a relatively short period of time.
Artefact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.