Management Accountant

Help shape the future of intellectual property

Marks & Clerk LLP is the leading and largest firm of Patent and Trade Mark attorneys in the UK with over 50 partners and 350 employees. Our attorneys are highly skilled in all technical fields. We have 8 offices in the UK: London, Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Role purpose

The Management Accountant is a key member of the finance team and will be responsible for preparing the monthly management accounts for the UK firm, Marks & Clerk LLP, as well as the preparation of the monthly management accounts for the group, Marks & Clerk International. Principal accountabilities will include analysing, preparing, posting management information for the accurate production of the management accounts and is a key point of contact between Finance and the wider business.

Principal responsibilities

The principal responsibility for the Management Accountant is the preparation and delivery of the monthly management accounts, the yearly budget process and business partnering. This includes;

Management Accounts

• Analysing, preparing and posting management account information. To include; 
• Identifying, calculating and posting of monthly accruals and prepayments for the UK business
• Assisting in ad-hoc monthly journal identification, posting and analysis where required
• Variance analysis and exception reporting, discussing with the wider business as appropriate
• Actively engaging with budget holders to understand variances against budget
• Updating and drafting monthly management account documents
• Production of consolidated management accounts for the international firm, ensuring all significant variances are understood and explained
• To work closely with the Group Accounting Manager and other Finance team members to ensure accurate and timely reporting of UK management accounts
• Engage with the wider Finance team to ensure prompt reporting of information and analysis for inclusion in the management accounts
• Work proactively with Group Accounting Manager and Senior Finance Manager to drive financial analysis in order to add commercial value to the business
• Prepare other ad-hoc analysis and reporting as requested by the Finance Partner and Group Finance

Business Partnering

• Proactively engage with business partners to add value to the partnership
• Provide accurate and timely finance data to support key decisions
• Preparation of ad-hoc business analysis and presentations for The Group Accounting Manager and senior finance management

Budget Preparation

• Work proactively with the Group Accounting Manager and key stakeholders to prepare UK budget and associated commentary for distribution to the UK Board and wider UK Partnership.
• Lead meetings with the key UK stakeholders for elements of the budget including cooperation team leaders, client relationship managers, office managers and heads of group functions
• Review and challenge both UK and International Associated Firms yearly budget submissions, requesting further information and explanation where necessary
• Consolidate budgets from individual Associated Firms providing analysis of key variances and collaborating with the Group Accounting Manager to produce the budget commentary for the international business
• Preparation of template management accounts for overseas firms following budget sign off

The firm is currently implementing a new ERP system. The Management Accountant, working under the guidance of the Group Accounting Manager, will play a key role in this transition. Responsibilities will include:

• Designing a robust budget code structure aligned with the general ledger
• Contributing to the design of management accounts and validating system-generated reporting outputs
• Testing system journals and ensuring accurate and compliant postings

Technical knowledge, professional qualifications and experience

• A minimum of 2 years experience in a finance / accounts related role
• Part-qualified ACCA/CIMA/ICAEW or similar
• Strong IT skills; literate with Excel (lookups and pivot tables), Word and other reporting tools
• Exemplary attention to detail
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• Experience of working to deadlines
• An effective and proactive team member
• Excellent communication skills; willingness to listen to others and ask relevant questions
• Knowledge and experience of business / finance procedures

Remuneration and benefits

• Competitive salary dependent on qualification and experience
• 26 days’ annual holiday, plus statutory holidays
• Hybrid working (minimum of 2 days in the office)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Private medical insurance 
• Permanent health insurance 
• Reimbursement of membership fees to professional bodies required for the role