Management Accountant - Fixed Term Contract

The salary for this role is £50,000

This role is being offered as a 12-month fixed term contract with the possibility of extension.

Are you someone who prides themselves on exceptional attention to detail and accuracy?

Have you successfully managed payroll in a small to medium-sized organization?

Do you excel in extracting data from systems and spreadsheets to create insightful reports for analysis?

Would you like the opportunity to influence the future of the finance function?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

As a Management Accountant at Livestock Information (LI), you will play a key role in delivering accurate financial information, insightful analysis, and robust reporting to support informed decision-making across the organisation. Working closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the business, you will help ensure the organisation's financial health, support strategic planning, and meet both internal and external reporting requirements.

This is a varied role offering broad exposure across the finance function. Day-to-day responsibilities will include preparing and analysing management accounts, overseeing invoices, supporting payroll activities, managing accounts payable processes, and contributing to financial planning and reporting.

At LI, we utilise modern, cloud-based finance systems that are fully integrated across the organisation. This provides an excellent opportunity to work with innovative technology, streamline financial processes, and enhance reporting and business insight through connected systems.

Your responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering the organisation's payroll function in partnership with the People Services team, using Xero Payroll to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time.
• Preparing and submitting PAYE and pension contribution returns accurately and within statutory deadlines.
• Responding promptly and professionally to employee payroll queries, resolving issues efficiently.
• Leading on IR35 assessments and Off-Payroll Working returns, ensuring adherence to HMRC legislation and internal governance requirements. 
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant financial legislation, payroll regulations, and accounting standards to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Preparing and submitting VAT returns in line with HMRC requirements.
• Using Xero to maintain accurate financial records and produce management information that supports business performance and informed decision-making.
• Preparing balance sheet reconciliations and investigating any discrepancies.
• Supporting the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring financial information is complete and accurate.
• Assisting with the preparation of management accounts, financial reports, and forecasts.
• Liaising with internal and external auditors, providing information and support to facilitate annual audits and compliance reviews.
• Maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring appropriate documentation is retained for audit and governance purposes.
• Identifying opportunities to improve financial processes, controls, and reporting to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Undertaking any other reasonable finance-related duties as required to support the needs of the business.

You may be required to undertake other duties assigned by your line manager as appropriate

Requirements

We are looking for someone with:

• Proven experience using finance and payroll software, particularly Xero.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, with the ability to manipulate, analyse, and present financial data.
• Experience delivering payroll services within a small to medium-sized organisation.
• Sound knowledge of bookkeeping principles and financial processes, with the ability to support and advise non-finance colleagues.
• Experience managing financial data and producing accurate reports from multiple systems and data sources.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret financial information and identify trends.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a high level of accuracy when working with financial data.
• The ability to extract, analyse, and present data from multiple sources to provide meaningful financial insight.
• Experience preparing financial analysis and management information to support planning, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.
• A proactive and continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities to enhance financial processes and controls.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to build effective working relationships across the organisation and explain financial information to non-financial audiences.

 Qualifications

You will hold the following qualifications/certifications:

• Professional qualifications such as AAT, CIPP, CIMA or similar

Reporting structure 

This role reports into the Head of Finance

Benefits

As an LI employee, you will be entitled to our company benefits which include

• A fully remote and flexible working set up
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service up to maximum of 30 days (plus Bank Holidays)
• 1 Privilege Day
• 4 x annual salary Life Assurance
• Market leading pension scheme through Legal & General
• Enhanced Family Friendly Policies
• Excellent learning, training, and career development opportunities
• 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• A diverse and inclusive culture where everyone is respected and valued

Application and Interview Process

To apply for this role, you will need to submit a CV and answer some pre-screening questions.

The interview and assessment process for this role will involve a telephone interview with our Talent Team, followed by a first stage and a final stage interview. Interviews will be conducted either remotely via MS Teams or face to face.

If we need to make a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible by emailing talent@livestockinformation.org.uk before the closing date to discuss your needs.

The closing date for this role is 4.00pm on Tuesday 25th August. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Please note that we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence tools can be used to help you prepare your application. However, all statements and examples provided during the recruitment process should be accurate and based on your own knowledge and experience. Applications may be withdrawn if content is found to be plagiarised, including where ideas or experiences generated by artificial intelligence are presented as personal work. For further information, please click on the following link : AI & Recruitment at LI

Values

We approach our work with TACT; we are Transparent, Accountable, Committed and we work as a Team.

We are transparent together, embracing honesty and building trust. We are accountable to the industry and strive for the best possible solutions for the communities we serve. We drive change with passion, commitment and enthusiasm to deliver a great service to the livestock industry.

We work kindly and cohesively which allows us to support each other in our personal and strategic goals. For more information on our values and what its like to work at Livestock Information, please visit our Careers Page : Careers - Livestock Information Ltd

At Livestock Information Ltd, we have a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, abuse, discrimination, or bullying during our recruitment process. Any such behaviour may result in a candidate being withdrawn from consideration. We are committed to upholding our company values and ensuring a safe and respectful experience for all candidates and staff.

How you’ll work/ Remote working

We’re a fully remote organisation however, our roles are UK-based and can only be performed within the UK. We come together in person twice a year for our company workshop events to connect, collaborate, and strengthen relationships. From time to time, there may also be occasional in-person team meetings.

Diversity statement

At Livestock Information, we value diversity and believe that every individual brings different strengths. We understand that not everyone may possess every single skill outlined in this job description, but if you believe you have a solid skill set that enables you to excel in this position then we really encourage you to apply.

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in a fair and open manner or if you are dis-satisfied with any of your interactions during the recruitment process and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact our Talent team via email: talent@livestockinformation.org.uk

Disclaimer

 Livestock Information Ltd. cannot sponsor work visas at this time.

Livestock Information Ltd. Does not discriminate based on race, sex, colour, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.

 Livestock Information Ltd. Does not accept unsolicited CVs from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited CV’s not originating directly from a candidate and sent to Livestock Information Ltd or any Livestock Information Ltd employees, including unsolicited CVs sent to a Livestock Information Ltd mailing address or email address, are rejected. Livestock Information Ltd will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited CV. Livestock Information Ltd considers any candidate for whom the recruiter has submitted an unsolicited CV referred by the company free of any fees.