Senior Accounts Manager

Description:

Senior Accounts Manager £45,000 DOE

Exeter | Multi-Company Group | Competitive Salary + Career Growth

Are you an experienced accounts professional who genuinely understands the numbers—not just the process?

We're looking for a highly capable Senior Accounts Manager to take ownership of the finance function across a growing group of businesses based in the South West. This is a hands-on, senior role for someone who thrives on improving systems, maintaining financial control, and producing accurate management information that supports business growth.

Why This Role?

This is not a traditional accounts position where you'll simply process transactions and follow established routines.

You'll be trusted to:

Take ownership of finance processes across multiple businesses
Improve financial controls and reporting standards
Drive better use of Xero throughout the group
Manage fixed assets, depreciation, finance agreements, and balance sheet control
Provide directors with clear, accurate financial information
Help build a scalable finance function for an ambitious and expanding organisation
If you enjoy solving problems, improving systems, and making a real impact, this role offers an excellent opportunity to shape the future of the finance department.

The Role

Reporting directly to senior leadership, you will be responsible for:

Financial Management & Reporting

Producing accurate monthly management accounts
Preparing profit & loss reports, balance sheets and cashflow information
Supporting budgeting, forecasting and business performance analysis
Assisting with group reporting and multi-company financial management
Xero Management & Financial Control

Managing Xero across multiple companies
Maintaining robust financial records and reconciliations
Improving reporting, automation, and financial processes
Developing stronger controls and reducing manual administration
Fixed Assets & Asset Finance

A key part of this role is managing fixed assets within Xero, including:

Asset additions and disposals
Depreciation calculations and postings
Asset register maintenance
HP agreements, loans, and asset finance reconciliations
Ensuring asset records reconcile accurately with management accounts and balance sheets
Purchase Ledger & Supplier Management

Managing supplier invoices and payment runs
Reconciling supplier statements
Resolving discrepancies and improving invoice processes
Ensuring accurate coding and VAT treatment
Compliance & Reconciliations

VAT return preparation
Bank, loan and intercompany reconciliations
Maintaining balance sheet schedules
Supporting year-end accounts and external accountants
What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

✔ Advanced practical experience using Xero

✔ Proven experience using the Xero Fixed Asset Register

✔ Experience posting depreciation, managing asset additions and disposals

✔ Strong management accounts experience

✔ Excellent understanding of balance sheet control and reconciliations

✔ Multi-company or group accounting experience

✔ Strong knowledge of VAT, purchase ledger and financial controls

✔ Excellent Excel skills

✔ Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders

Personal Attributes

Organised and highly detail-focused
Commercially aware and proactive
Comfortable challenging poor processes
Solutions-focused and hands-on
Trustworthy, reliable and professional
Able to work confidently in a fast-paced, growing business environment
Desirable Experience

Experience within any of the following sectors would be highly advantageous:

Construction
Plant Hire
Transport & Logistics
Engineering
Aggregates
Fleet Management
Asset-Heavy Businesses
Experience with intercompany accounting, board-level reporting and finance system improvements would also be beneficial.

Competitive salary based on experience up to £45,000

Long-term career progression opportunities

Opportunity to influence and improve a growing finance function

Supportive leadership team

Flexible working arrangements may be considered for exceptional candidates