At Cogna, we're working hard to solve the productivity crisis. Lagging productivity is the biggest barrier to economic growth and a major obstacle to addressing our most important issues, such as climate change, healthcare, and social equality.
But it’s not a single problem that can be tackled with a silver-bullet solution, it’s the accumulation of millions of highly specific, context-driven challenges across every facet of every organisation that have to be addressed on their own terms.
Cogna is on a mission to solve this very complex problem. We’re creating an AI-powered platform to understand these inefficiencies within customers’ operating models, to define the requirements, and develop the software itself in a fully automated way. The result is high-quality, precision software at scale.
Since our launch in May 2023, we’ve already seen significant traction and customer revenue that outpaces most companies at our stage. We’re backed by top VCs, including Notion Capital and Hoxton Ventures, and we’re growing our world-class team - ex Google, Microsoft, Palantir - to take us to the next level on our mission.
This is more than a job, it’s an opportunity to be part of something genuinely transformative. Are you up for the challenge?
Overview
We’re searching for an ambitious, highly adaptable Management Accountant to join our growing team. Working closely with the COO and Finance Manager, you’ll be our second in-house finance hire, spending about 20% of your time on hands-on bookkeeping and 80% on higher-impact work—month-end close, budgeting & forecasting, treasury, systems implementation and preparing board-level insight. With significant growth forecast over the next 18 months, this is a great opportunity to develop your career by shaping today’s processes and tomorrow’s team, building deep, end-to-end expertise in a fast-moving start-up environment.
What you’ll do
* Bookkeeping & controls: Own purchase and sales ledgers, bank feeds, supplier-expense processing, sales invoicing and monthly Xero reconciliations to keep records accurate and up to date.
* Month-end close: Post accruals, prepayments and deferred revenue; draft management accounts with clear commentary for leadership.
* Treasury & cash management: Monitor weekly cash, execute payment runs and maintain banking mandates.
* Tax and Compliance: Compile data for Corporation Tax and VAT returns and maintain statutory registers.
* Payroll & expenses: Execute monthly payroll, review pension submissions and audit expense claims to ensure accuracy and compliance.
* Systems & Finance stack: Evaluate and help roll out the next-gen stack (e.g. NetSuite, spend-management, close-automation) and document new processes.
* Team and company development: Champion best practice, foster an effective and collaborative finance culture as the team scales, and be ready to tackle ad-hoc tasks as they arise.
What we’re looking for:
Essential:
* Newly qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA (0–1 year PQE) and 2–3 years’ pre-qualification audit (ideally Top-20 practice) or industry experience.
* Strong grasp of double-entry and IFRS/UK GAAP; able to explain the difference between management and statutory accounts.
* Ambitious and adaptable – you thrive in fast-changing settings and take ownership early while remaining open to new ideas.
Desirable:
* Some knowledge of cloud-accounting software (e.g. Xero) and advanced Excel skills.
* Exposure to/ familiarity with VC/PE-backed fast-growth businesses.
* Genuine passion for technology and self-improvement.
What we offer
* Competitive salary and share option plan
* 25 days annual leave, plus public holidays
* Excellent pension scheme, with 7.5% employer contribution
* Private healthcare, including family cover and pre-existing conditions
* Flexible hybrid working with 2 days per fortnight in our Farringdon office
* Regular social events and offsites
* Access to a gym and fitness classes in our office building