Accountant

About us: We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland.  

We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That’s why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.

Accountant – Whitchurch

Permanent, Full Time 

Hours: Monday–Friday 37.5 hours per week

Salary: Competitive (DOE)

We’re looking for an experienced and detail‑driven Accountant to join our team in Whitchurch. Reporting to the Group Head of Commercial & Operational Finance, this role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, enjoys improving processes, and can confidently lead an accounts team to deliver accurate, timely reporting.

About the Role

You’ll take ownership of monthly management accounts, year‑end and quarter‑end reporting, and ensure all financial controls and group policies are maintained. This is a hands‑on role where you’ll manage the accounts team, oversee reporting deadlines, and support the business with accurate financial insight.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts, full balance sheet reconciliations, and P&L analysis

• Review variances against budget and prior year, providing clear explanations

• Maintain rolling profit estimates and prepare forecasts

• Lead on budgeting, including template maintenance and updates

• Manage year‑end and quarter‑end processes, including MI Cube entries and statutory schedules

• Oversee bank payments, BACS collections, and cashflow forecasting (16‑week rolling)

• Prepare VAT returns, P11D information, PAYE settlement calculations, and respond to tax queries

• Manage and support the accounts team, ensuring deadlines, training, and performance targets are met

• Review debtors, manage credit control processes, and maintain bad debt provisions

• Maintain and improve internal controls, ensuring compliance with group policies

What We’re Looking For

• Strong background in accounts preparation and financial reporting

• Experience working to strict deadlines in a busy finance environment

• Team management experience with the ability to coach and support staff

• Excellent organisational skills and a proactive approach to improving processes

• Ability to adapt quickly to change and manage multiple priorities

• Ideally qualified or newly qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA), though strong experience is essential

Why Join Us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a key finance role with real influence, visibility, and scope to drive improvements. You’ll work closely with senior leadership and play a central part in shaping financial performance and reporting across the business.

Core Benefits:

• Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression as you grow within the business
• Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service
• Enhanced family leave, including 6 months’ full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeks’ full pay for paternity leave
• Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments

Health & Wellbeing:

• Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs
• Smart Health – 24/7 access to GP services to support your mental and physical wellbeing
• Dental insurance for everyday dental care and unexpected treatments
• Optional critical illness cover for peace of mind during life's most challenging moments

Financial Wellbeing:

• MyView PayNow – access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a user-friendly app
• Free will writing services to help plan for the future
• Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection

Leisure & Lifestyle:

• Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle
• Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence
• Access to home and technology vouchers
• bYond card and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts

We strongly believe in nurturing and providing our people with specific manufacturer brand and management training to enhance career development opportunities. We have a great bunch of people, and we like to celebrate and encourage success at all levels.

Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential. 

If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history and a standard criminal record check. For roles that require you to drive, a driving licence check will also be carried out. Please note, all offers of employment are made subject to a 6 month probation period commencing from your start date.

We take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and are committed to upholding and respecting your privacy rights. Information about how we will process your data including the types of data we collect, the purposes for which we use it, who we may share it with and how long we keep it are set out in our privacy notice. It also includes information about your individual privacy rights. Please make sure you read our Privacy Notice so that you understand how we may collect and use your data.