Company Accountant
3 days ago
Blackburn
Company Accountant \n \n Salary: £50,000–£60,000 per annum, depending on experience \n Location: Blackburn — 100% office based \n Job type: Full-time, permanent \n The Opportunity \n An experienced Company Accountant is required to join an established finance team supporting a substantial portfolio of shopping centres and commercial properties across the UK. \n This varied, hands-on position offers responsibility for accounting across multiple entities, with a focus on year-end accounts, VAT, taxation, balance sheet reconciliations and maintaining accurate financial records. \n The role differs from a conventional Management Accountant position, with greater emphasis on underlying company accounting and financial control than on producing monthly management reporting packs. It would suit someone who enjoys investigating transactions, resolving accounting queries and taking ownership of detailed financial work. \n Working closely with senior finance leadership and the wider accounts team, you will gain exposure to a diverse commercial property portfolio. \n Extensive practical Sage 50 experience and strong Excel skills are essential. \n Key Responsibilities \n\n • Prepare year-end trial balances and detailed supporting schedules across multiple companies, liaising with external accountants responsible for preparing final statutory accounts.\n, • Prepare and post journals, accruals, prepayments and other accounting adjustments.\n, • Maintain accurate accounting records throughout the year, ensuring each entity is ready for year-end.\n, • Prepare and review VAT returns across multiple entities, reconcile VAT control accounts and investigate discrepancies.\n, • Address VAT queries relating to commercial property transactions, seeking specialist advice where appropriate.\n, • Maintain accurate records relating to corporation tax and other company taxation matters, working with external advisers as required.\n, • Maintain and review accounting records using Sage 50.\n, • Process tenancy movements, including new tenants, departures and lease changes, using established Sage 50 and Excel procedures.\n, • Build, maintain and review detailed Excel schedules supporting accounting balances and property transactions.\n, • Reconcile balance sheet accounts, investigate outstanding items and ensure balances are fully supported.\n, • Review nominal ledgers to identify incorrect postings, omissions and unusual transactions.\n, • Maintain and reconcile intercompany accounts and supporting schedules.\n, • Review income and expenditure across individual companies and properties.\n, • Support the accounting and administrative requirements of new company formations, including setting up entities within Sage 50.\n, • Maintain schedules relating to funding arrangements and financial commitments.\n, • Provide information and supporting documentation for year-end accounts, audits and taxation work.\n, • Liaise with external accountants, auditors, tax advisers and other professional advisers.\n, • Support senior finance leadership with accounting analysis and financial projects.\n, • Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, financial controls and efficiency.\n, • Provide practical accounting support and guidance to colleagues.\n\n Skills and Experience \n You will be a capable, detail-focused accountant who can work independently and take responsibility for accounting records across multiple entities. \n The successful candidate will demonstrate: \n\n • An ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification, ideally. Strong finalists, part-qualified accountants and candidates qualified by experience will also be considered.\n, • Extensive hands-on experience using Sage 50 — essential.\n, • Strong Excel skills, including the ability to build, maintain and review detailed accounting schedules — essential.\n, • Proven experience preparing accounts through to year-end.\n, • Practical knowledge of VAT returns and VAT control account reconciliations.\n, • Experience supporting corporation tax and other company taxation matters.\n, • A thorough understanding of journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet accounting.\n, • Experience working across multiple companies or legal entities.\n, • The ability to investigate ledger activity, resolve discrepancies and identify unusual transactions.\n, • Strong attention to detail and confidence handling substantial volumes of financial information.\n, • Effective communication skills and confidence liaising with senior management and external advisers.\n, • An organised, proactive approach to managing competing priorities.\n\n Experience within commercial property, real estate investment, a multi-site business or another multi-company environment would be advantageous, although it is not essential. A minimum of five years’ accounting experience is preferred. \n What the Role Offers \n\n • A salary of £50,000–£60,000, reflecting qualifications and practical experience.\n, • A broad accounting remit covering year-end accounts, VAT, taxation, property transactions and financial control.\n, • Ownership of accounting responsibilities across multiple entities.\n, • Close working relationships with senior finance leadership.\n, • The opportunity to contribute to process improvements within an established finance team.\n\n Location and Working ArrangementsThis role is 100% office based in Blackburn.