Overview
Big+Bold - Finance Manager
Big+Bold is a B Corp‑certified creative agency based in Belfast, working across brand, design and advertising for clients in the UK, Ireland and beyond. We combine purpose‑driven creativity with data‑driven effectiveness - “Moving Business Forward” - for sectors from public service to fintech and sustainability. We’re a tight, senior team that values clarity, curiosity and getting great work into the world.
Role: Finance Manager
Location: Belfast (Hybrid/Flexible: 2 days on site, 3 days WFH)
Reports to: Managing Director
Contract: Full‑time, permanent
Responsibilities
Purpose
Own the day‑to‑day finance engine while staying two steps ahead. Keep a tight and close process, clean cash discipline, and proactive advice on tax planning and wealth efficient decisions (working with our external accountants). You’ll also make Xero sing, keep the bank happy, and facilitate quoting/invoicing so the creative team can focus on making excellent work for our clients.
Key responsibilities
Day‑to‑day control & close
* Run core ledgers and reconciliations: bank, nominal, debtors, creditors; maintain tidy control accounts and audit trail.
* Deliver monthly management accounts by working day 5: P&L, balance sheet, cashflow, variance analysis and clear commentary.
* Prepare year‑end working papers and liaise with external accountants through to sign‑off.
Revenue, quoting and invoicing
* Support client‑facing teams to create quotes and pro‑formas; raise invoices promptly on milestones/completion; ensure VAT treatment is correct (UK/ROI/ROW).
* Maintain WIP and deferred income schedules; chase aged debt tactfully and systematically.
Spend discipline & supplier management
* Raise POs and enforce PO compliance; set supplier terms; schedule supplier payments (weekly payment run) aligned to cash position.
* Manage company insurances, pensions and healthcare schemes; lead renewals.
Cash & banking
* Own a live 13‑week cash “table” (rolling forecast) and daily cash position; highlight risks/opportunities early.
* Manage banking relationships, mandates, KYC requests, and optimise surplus cash (e.g., sweeps/notice accounts within policy).
Tax, payroll & compliance
* Complete and submit VAT returns (quarterly) fully MTD compliant, with reconciliations to control accounts.
* Oversee monthly payroll (accuracy, RTI filings, pension contributions).
* Coordinate government/official surveys (e.g., ONS/NISRA/BEIS returns), Companies House data checks, and respond to bank/statutory queries.
Advisory (non‑regulated) & planning
* Advise directors on taxefficient‑ profit extraction, prepare dividend vouchers/minutes, and align to cash/tax plans; coordinate with our external accountants for technical advice.
* Build and maintain business models and scenario plans; perform ad‑hoc analysis supporting pricing, rate‑card reviews, capex and hiring plans.
Systems & process improvement
* Be the Xero owner: bank rules, tracking categories, lock dates, month‑end checklist; maintain a clean chart of accounts and consistent job/PO naming.
* Work alongside Streamtime (job management) to improve job costing, margin reporting and burn‑rate visibility.
* Strengthen controls, policies and documentation across authorisations, expenses, and data retention.
Success looks like (first 3–6 months)
* Month‑end closed by WD5 with reliable variance commentary; no unreconciled balances.
* 13‑week cashflow live and used in weekly planning; supplier runs align to cash windows.
* Aged debt 90%.
* VAT submissions on schedule; zero filing penalties; clean HMRC/Xero audit trail.
* Clear, board‑ready metrics: revenue, GM by client/job, utilisation, overhead trend, runway.
Skills & experience
* Qualified/Part‑qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or QBE, with strong core accounting skills and proven cashflow forecasting chops.
* Hands‑on SME experience; confident with Xero; advanced Excel (lookups, pivots, modelling).
* Management accounts, yearend support, VAT and payroll ‑end-to-end‑.
* Comfortable advising owners on remuneration in coordination with external advisors.
* Bonus points: creative/agency background; Streamtime familiarity; experience with ROI invoicing/VAT.
Personal qualities
* Calm, proactive and precise; you like tidy ledgers and straight answers.
* Comfortable switching gears—from paying suppliers to discussing director wealth strategy—without losing the plot.
* Collaborative; clear communicator with non‑finance colleagues.
Benefits
* Private Healthcare.
* Hybrid working.
* Professional development support.
* B Corp‑aligned culture.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Belfast BT1 2ED
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