Finanace Manager

Finance Manager

Pay: £35,000.00 per year

Job description:

Company Overview

The Lime Trees is a growing childcare provider delivering high-quality nursery, breakfast, after-school and holiday club provision across multiple locations.

We are an ambitious and growing organisation, and this is an exciting opportunity for the right person to play a central role in strengthening and developing our finance function as the business continues to expand.

If you are an experienced finance professional who enjoys taking ownership, improving processes and working in a fast-paced multi-site organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Finance Manager

The Lime Trees | Full-time

The Lime Trees is looking for an experienced and highly organised Finance Manager to join our growing team.

This is a hands-on Finance Manager role responsible for day-to-day finance, reporting, bookkeeping oversight and monthly management accounts across our childcare settings. You will work closely with our senior leadership team, providing clear financial information to support business decisions.

We are looking for someone who can take ownership of finance processes, produce meaningful reports, maintain accurate records and identify key trends or discrepancies.

Role and Responsibilities

Finance Management and Reporting

• Manage the day-to-day finance function, ensuring records, reconciliations and reporting are accurate and up to date.
• Prepare financial reports covering income, expenditure, cash flow, aged debt, variances and key trends.

• Prepare, review and support monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and commentary.
• Maintain financial controls and support improvements to systems, processes and reporting.

Bookkeeping, Ledgers and Reconciliations

• Oversee basic bookkeeping, including transactions, supplier invoices, customer payments, ledgers and journals.
• Manage bank, purchase ledger, sales ledger and nominal ledger reconciliations across Sage and internal systems.

• Record and reconcile supplier payments, customer receipts and childcare voucher payments.
• Post payroll records to Sage and reconcile HMRC, pension and payroll-related transactions.

• Identify and resolve payroll or pension discrepancies, escalating issues where required.

Systems, Controls and Process Improvement

You will work across a range of systems, including:

• Sage
• Kids Club HQ

• Family booking systems
• Stripe

• GoCardless
• Soldo

Ensure invoices, payments and management information flow accurately between booking platforms, payment systems and Sage, while improving efficiency and reporting where possible.

Senior Leadership Support and Management Accounts

• Provide financial reports, reporting packs and supporting schedules.
• Monitor income, expenditure, cash flow, debtors and creditors, highlighting key issues and recommended actions.

• Liaise with external accountants and internal teams to ensure finance reports and management accounts are delivered on time.

About You

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience in a finance management, accounts management or senior finance role.
• Confident preparing, reviewing and supporting monthly management accounts.

• Strong reporting, bookkeeping, reconciliation and financial analysis skills.
• Experience using Sage, Excel and financial reporting systems.

• Good understanding of payroll, HMRC payments and pensions.
• Strong attention to detail, organisation and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently and manage deadlines across multiple systems.

Qualifications

• A recognised accountancy qualification is preferred but not mandatory, such as AAT, ACCA or ACA.
• Candidates who do not hold a formal qualification but can demonstrate substantial relevant experience and a strong understanding of accounting processes will also be considered.

• A commitment to maintaining and developing professional knowledge and skills.

Childcare-sector experience would be beneficial, particularly with booking systems, funding, payment platforms or multi-site childcare operations.

Work Location: In person