Finance Manager/Senior Bookkeeper

Job Title: Finance Manager/Senior Bookkeeper
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
Salary: £35,000 - £42,000 + Benefits
Company Size: £15 Million Turnover
Industry: Wholesale & Distribution

About Us

We are a dynamic company supplying high-quality disposable protective products, polythene products, hygiene supplies and associated consumables. We have a diverse customer base across several sectors, including healthcare, food manufacturing and processing, cleaning and janitorial services, and the wider industrial and commercial markets. With a current annual turnover of £15 million, we are looking for an experienced, detail-oriented finance manager to manage our day-to-day financial operations.

The Role

As our finance manager, you will take overall ownership of the transactional finance function. This is a hands-on position requiring extensive experience with Sage 50 Accounts within a fast-moving, high-volume trading environment. You will manage stock reconciliations, bank reconciliations including invoice financing and month end procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Sage 50 Management: Oversee the day-to-day health of the ledger, managing both sales and purchase ledgers, bank reconciliations, and journal entries.
• Inventory & Stock Accounting: Reconcile high-volume, multi-line inventory orders, assist with matching supplier invoices to Goods Received Notes (GRNs) and purchase orders.
• Credit Control & Accounts Receivable: Monitor customer payment terms, issue monthly statements, and proactively chase outstanding trade debts to optimize cash flow.
• Accounts Payable: Manage supplier relationships, verify international and domestic freight/import documentation, and schedule supplier payment runs.
• Banking & Cash Flow: Conduct bank reconciliations and assist the management team with regular cash flow forecasting, including maintaining the invoice financing facilities.
• Compliance & VAT: Prepare and submit quarterly VAT returns via Sage 50, ensuring absolute compliance with HMRC regulations for our business. Including reconciliation of Duty Deferment/C79 statements.
• Month-End Support: Prepare the trial balance, post accruals and prepayments, and hand over clean financial data to our external accountants for quarterly and year-end reporting.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Expertise in Sage 50: Minimum of 3–5 years of experience using Sage 50 Accounts (ideally Sage 50 Professional).
• Wholesale/Distribution Experience: Strong background working in an import/export, stock-based, or wholesale distribution company is essential.
• High-Volume Capability: Proven experience managing finances for a company with a turnover of £10M–£20M.
• Technical Skills: Strong understanding of multi-currency transactions, duty/import VAT, and stock control systems.
• Software: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and its integration with Sage.
• Qualifications: AAT qualified, ICB/IAB certification, or qualified by experience.
• Attributes: Self-motivated, highly organized, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Company pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Friendly and collaborative office environment
• Monday to Friday working, 9am-5pm
• 28 Days annual leave per annum including bank holidays.

If you are interested in this position, please let us know by emailing [email protected] with a copy of your CV and a covering letter.

**No recruitment agencies please.**

Pay: £35,000.00-£42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person