Overview
Join the Energy at Freedom Leisure - Do Good Feel Good!
At Freedom Leisure, we're all about positive vibes, great people, and making a real impact. We run leisure and cultural facilities, gyms, and swimming pools, but at the heart of it all, it's our people who make the difference. As one of the UK's leading charitable leisure trusts, we are proud of our mission of Improving Lives Through Leisure. We help communities live healthier, happier lives by making our centres welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.
We are proud to be a workplace where everyone is welcome, valued and supported to thrive. When our team reflects the communities we serve, we all grow stronger together. Were looking for a Senior Management Accountant to head up our small team of Management Accountants. This is a key leadership role where youull report to the Head of Finance and work alongside the Group Finance Manager.
Responsibilities
* Lead the production of monthly management accounts
* Complete VAT returns and reconciliations
* Support the group budget preparation and annual audit
* Help develop and improve financial policies and procedures
* Provide advice and support to finance and non-finance colleagues
* Understand and manage the financial implications of our charitable status and multi-site operations
Key Responsibilities
* Prepare monthly management accounts and variance analysis for over 160 cost centres
* Complete month-end journals and balance sheet reconciliations
* Complete quarterly VAT returns and monthly VAT reports for our agency arrangements
* Assist with group budgeting and annual audit preparation
* Guide and support the finance team to meet deadlines and develop skills
* Review and improve financial procedures and documentation
* Administer our accounting software and provide support to users
* Lead the development of an internal audit function
* Build relationships with budget holders and provide training
* Support financial planning and new business opportunities
Requirements
What We're Looking For
Qualifications:
* Fully qualified accountant (ideally with 5+ years post-qualification experience)
Experience:
* Strong financial and management accounting background
* Solid VAT knowledge, especially partial exemption rules
* Experience in multi-site or cost-centre environments (charity or private sector)
* Previous team management experience
* Confident with accounting software packages and Microsoft 365, in particular Excel
Skills & Competencies:
* Financially astute with practical understanding of financial processes and issues
* Able to identify and implement improvements
* Advanced Excel skills (macros and reporting)
* Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
* Highly organised and deadline-driven
* Professional, flexible and motivated
* Integrity and a commitment to high standards
Benefits
We want you to love coming to work, feeling healthy, happy and valued. That's why we've developed a benefits package with you in mind, so what can we offer you?
* My Staff Shop, our own staff benefit scheme, with discounts on cinema tickets, travel bookings, high street e-vouchers, gift cards, days out, leisure activities and everyday spending.
* Discounted Staff membership (including family members)
* Incremental holidays
* Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential, independent, professional counselling.
* Company pension
* Various insurance and saving schemes
* Financial advice
* Cycle-to-work and Car Leasing tax-efficient schemes (salaried staff only)
* Fully funded training and career progression opportunities
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday
Salary: £52,000 - £55,000 per annum
Closing Date: 19th September 2025
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