4. VAT, Compliance and Controls

• Prepare, review and submit VAT returns through Making Tax Digital.
• Ensure VAT returns are accurate, complete, supported by appropriate reconciliations and submitted on time.
• Maintain VAT control account reconciliations and supporting evidence files.
• Review VAT coding, VAT system setup and transaction processing within Sage 200.
• Investigate unusual VAT movements, adjustments or reconciling items.
• Ensure imports, integrations and manual journals are correctly treated for VAT purposes.
• Escalate unusual, complex or judgemental VAT matters to the Finance Director.
• Provide the Finance Director with a VAT summary before submission, including key movements, adjustments, reconciliations and any risks.
• Support audit or HMRC queries relating to VAT, finance systems, reconciliations and reporting controls.

5. Data Quality, Reconciliations and Financial Control

• Ensure financial and operational data used for reporting is accurate, complete and appropriately reconciled.
• Improve controls around system imports, interfaces, master data, user access, report production and manual adjustments.
• Review and improve reconciliations between Sage 200 and other business systems.
• Identify recurring errors, weaknesses or inconsistencies and work with the relevant teams to resolve them.
• Maintain process notes and control documentation for key finance reporting and system processes.
• Support month-end and year-end reporting by improving the reliability and availability of financial data.
• Assist with audit preparation, including schedules, system explanations, reconciliations and evidence of controls.
• Promote good financial control and data discipline across the finance team.

6. Process Improvement and Finance Projects

• Lead finance systems, reporting and data improvement projects.
• Map existing finance processes and data flows, identifying manual work, duplication, control weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.
• Work with Finance, Operations, Technology and external system providers to deliver practical system and reporting improvements.
• Translate finance and business reporting requirements into workable system and data solutions.
• Support the integration of new systems into Finance processes.
• Test system changes, report outputs, imports and new processes before implementation.
• Ensure changes to finance systems, reporting models and key processes are properly documented and controlled.
• Help the business move away from manual spreadsheet-led reporting where better system-led or automated solutions are possible.

7. Support to Finance Team and Wider Business

• Work closely with the Management Accountant to improve month-end reporting, revenue analysis, margin reporting and sales ledger data quality.
• Work closely with the Payroll / Office / Purchase Ledger Manager to improve purchase ledger processes, supplier data, approvals and Sage 200 controls.
• Provide guidance to finance colleagues on system use, reporting requirements, coding consistency and data quality.
• Challenge poor processes or inconsistent data handling in a constructive and practical way.
• Support the Finance Director with Board reporting, management information, cashflow reporting and financial analysis.
• Explain data, systems and reporting issues clearly to non-technical colleagues.
• Act as a key link between Finance, Operations, Technology and external system providers.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Qualified accountant — ACCA, CIMA or ACA.
• Strong finance systems experience, ideally including Sage 200 or a similar ERP/accounting system.
• Strong understanding of core finance processes, including nominal ledger, sales ledger, purchase ledger, bank, VAT, management reporting and month-end controls.
• Experience preparing and submitting VAT returns through Making Tax Digital.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Advanced Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, Power Query and working with large data sets.
• Experience building or improving financial reports from raw or system-exported data.
• Experience reviewing or maintaining forecasting, cashflow or financial reporting models.
• Ability to understand system structures, data flows, interfaces and reporting logic.
• Strong reconciliation skills and a control-focused approach.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to identify process weaknesses and implement practical improvements.
• Confident working with stakeholders across Finance, Operations, Technology and external providers.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deliver improvements while supporting regular reporting cycles.

Desirable

• Experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools.
• Experience with Sage 200 administration, imports, reporting and system configuration.
• Experience working in a business with multiple operational systems, payment platforms, subscription platforms or stock systems.
• Experience supporting system implementation, integration or upgrade projects.
• Understanding of stock, fulfilment, logistics, manufacturing, pharmacy, healthcare or subscription-based revenue models.
• Experience in a regulated, audited or quality-controlled environment.
• Experience supporting audit preparation and control documentation.

Personal Attributes

• Curious, analytical and genuinely interested in how systems and data work.
• Strong enough technically to get into the detail, but able to see the bigger commercial picture.
• Practical and solutions-focused.
• Accurate, organised and methodical.
• Comfortable challenging existing processes and suggesting better ways of working.
• Able to explain technical, data or systems issues in plain English.
• Proactive and confident working independently.
• Collaborative and able to build strong working relationships across different teams.
• Calm under pressure and able to prioritise effectively.
• Willing to take ownership and follow issues through to resolution.
• Control-minded, but pragmatic.