Management Accountant

A globally recognisable luxury retail brand is looking for a management accountant, your role will be pivotal in driving the financial performance and strategic decision-making within our organisation. Reporting to the Finance Manager- Retail, you'll work alongside directors, department heads and finance professionals to ensure efficient financial reporting and variance analysis in alignment with business objectives. You will be responsible for managing and maintaining multiple cost centres. ABOUT THE ROLE Month End Reporting: • Leading the financial accounting for your owned entity through implementing strong controls focused financial processes. • Preparation and timely posting of monthly financial journals, ensuring accuracy and adherence to strict deadlines. • Provide analysis of monthly performance against budget, forecast and prior year. • Conducting monthly reconciliations of balance sheet accounts to maintain financial integrity. • Producing periodic reports and analysis on cost centres, facilitating discussions with senior management. You will challenge variances and escalate overspends where necessary. Budgeting/Forecasting: • Collaborating with relevant senior stakeholders and FP&A team to develop and prepare detailed annual budgets (P&L and Balance Sheet), ensuring they align with strategic goals. • Upholding the accuracy of the budgeting process within tight deadlines. • Reviewing and challenging budget assumptions, including payroll and expenses, to enhance financial planning. • Leading budget meetings, actively engaging with directors & department heads to understand business needs and align financial planning accordingly. • Understanding, challenging, and reporting accurate monthly forecasts, ensuring transparency in financial projections. • Communicating known overspends or underspends, enabling timely decision-making. Ad Hoc Analysis and Support: • Key contact point for stakeholders to support with finance-based requests and such as supporting with budget overspend requests, cost centre allocations and budget re-allocations. • Critical analysis of fixed and variable costs in the profit and loss statement (P&L), with the aim of identifying opportunities for efficiency and cost savings. • Undertaking ad hoc analysis and tasks as required within the Finance Team, contributing to the overall financial health of the organization. ABOUT YOU • Professional Qualifications: you will be a qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA) • Preferably with Big 4/top tier accounting firm background • Excellent PC literacy: especially Excel (and preferably SAP ECC/SAP S4Hana) • Analytical Thinker: You possess a keen analytical mindset, capable of dissecting complex financial data and deriving actionable insights that drive informed decisions. • Strong Communication: With exceptional verbal and written communication skills, you can convey financial insights clearly and collaborate seamlessly with diverse teams. • Adaptability: You thrive in an ever-changing financial landscape, showcasing your adaptability and agility in responding to shifting circumstances and priorities. • Meticulous Eye for Detail: Your commitment to precision ensures that financial reporting and analysis are accurate and reliable. • Problem Solver: Proficient at identifying financial challenges, you proactively seek solutions to drive financial optimization. • Team Player: Your collaborative mindset aligns seamlessly with Harrods' culture, emphasising teamwork, mutual respect, and shared success. • Time management: Ability to work well under pressure to meet deadlines, while managing multiple deliverables.