Financial Accountant - Aldenham Estate - Events, Leisure, Property

Own the Numbers. Strengthen the Controls. Help Build a Better Finance Function.

Are you a technically strong Financial Accountant who enjoys being close to the detail, taking ownership of the accounting cycle and making sure the numbers genuinely stand up?

Do you thrive in a hands-on environment where accurate month-end reporting, robust reconciliations and strong financial controls really matter?

Join Aldenham Estate at an exciting point in the development of its finance function, with the opportunity to take ownership of core accounting while supporting improvements to systems, processes and reporting.

If you re a technically confident Financial Accountant who wants to take ownership, strengthen controls and help shape a better finance function, we d love to hear from you.

Experience within property, estates, rural businesses or another family-owned organisation would be advantageous but isn't essential.

The Role at a Glance

• Financial Accountant (Qualified)
• Aldenham Estate Elstree, Hertfordshire
• Predominantly working onsite with flex
• £55,000 - £60,000 DOE
• Full Time Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Finance

Direct Reports: Bookkeeper / Finance Administration Support as appropriate

Business: Diversified Family-Owned Estate Property Aerodrome Glamping Farming Sustainable Land Management

Your Background / Skills

Financial Accounting, Month-End, Management Accounts, Balance Sheet Reconciliations, VAT, Payroll, Cash Flow, Financial Controls, Multi-Entity Accounting, Finance Systems, Excel, ACA, ACCA or CIMA.

Culture

The culture is informal, flexible and family-friendly, with an emphasis on outcomes, collaboration and connection to the wider estate.

About Aldenham Estate

Aldenham Estate is a diversified family-owned estate based in Elstree, Hertfordshire, with activities spanning residential and commercial property, London Elstree Aerodrome, Home Farm Glamping, farming and environmental land management.

Operating through a number of companies, partnerships and trusts, the Estate is investing in improved financial systems, reporting and controls as it strengthens its finance function for the future.

The Opportunity

We re looking for a technically strong, hands-on Financial Accountant to become the operational accounting backbone of the finance team. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you ll take ownership of the accuracy and integrity of the Estate s underlying financial records, including the monthly close, reconciliations, VAT, payroll administration, banking controls, cash-flow preparation and day-to-day finance systems administration.

Sitting between the internal bookkeeping function and external accountants, you ll ensure financial information across the Estate s multiple entities is accurate, complete and presented in the right format. Your immediate priority will be maintaining operational continuity and robust financial control, while supporting the Head of Finance with the replacement of Sage 50, integration with Re-Leased and documentation of clear, consistent finance procedures - bringing greater control, clarity and confidence to the numbers.

You ll own the technical accounting, controls and operational finance processes that ensure the underlying numbers are accurate, reliable and audit-ready.

Where You’ll Add Value

Financial Accounting & Control

Lead the monthly close across all entities - from journals, accruals and reconciliations to fixed assets and reporting support, ensuring the underlying records are accurate, consistent and audit-ready.

Statutory Accounts, VAT & Compliance

Prepare VAT returns, year-end schedules and audit files, maintain the finance compliance calendar and act as a dependable point of contact for external accountants, auditors and advisers.

Cash Flow, Working Capital & Banking

Prepare short-term cash-flow forecasts, monitor working capital and credit control, and maintain robust banking, payment and access controls with clear approval responsibilities.

Payroll & Operational Finance

Work with the outsourced payroll provider and Bookkeeper to ensure payroll, pensions, invoicing, payments, reconciliations and transaction processing run accurately and on time.

Systems & Process Improvement

Support the replacement of the finance system and its integration with Re-Leased, including migration, testing and reconciliation. Document key procedures and introduce practical improvements that increase efficiency, control and operational resilience.

About You

You re a technically strong, hands-on accountant who enjoys doing, not simply reviewing.

You like getting beneath the numbers making sure balance sheets reconcile, controls work and financial information can be trusted. Curious and pragmatic, you re comfortable navigating multi-entity complexity, investigating issues and finding workable solutions when everything doesn t fit neatly into a standard box.

You ll be confident taking ownership within a small finance team, balancing competing deadlines and working independently while building strong relationships with finance colleagues, operational teams and external advisers.

You’ll Likely Bring

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification with strong technical accounting capability.
• Strong financial accounting, month-end and balance sheet reconciliation experience.
• Experience preparing management accounts and supporting year-end statutory accounts.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, banking processes, VAT and payroll administration.
• Excellent Excel skills and confidence working with accounting systems.
• High attention to detail with a genuine commitment to accuracy and control.
• The ability to independently manage priorities and deadlines within a hands-on finance environment.
• Clear communication skills and confidence working with finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience within a multi-entity accounting environment would be particularly valuable.

Knowledge of Sage 50, Re-Leased, partial exemption VAT or finance systems implementation/integration would also be beneficial.

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate and timely monthly close across all entities.
• Fully reconciled balance sheets supported by appropriate schedules every month.
• Clean, well-prepared year-end and audit files.
• Accurate and timely VAT returns.
• Reliable short-term cash flow visibility for the Head of Finance and Directors.
• Effective banking, payment and access controls.
• Accurate monthly payroll administration and reconciliation.
• Clear, up-to-date finance procedures.
• Successful support for finance system replacement and Re-Leased integration.
• Reduced key-person dependency across critical finance processes.

Why Join Aldenham Estate?

This is an opportunity to take real ownership within a varied and unusual business environment.

Rather than accounting for one straightforward trading business, you ll gain exposure across property, aviation, hospitality, farming and sustainable land management, all within the wider Aldenham Estate.

You’ll Have

• £55,000 - £60,000 salary depending on experience.
• Genuine ownership of the accounting cycle.
• Exposure to a varied, multi-entity family-owned organisation.
• Close working relationship with the Head of Finance, Directors and operational teams.
• Opportunity to strengthen financial controls and reporting.
• Hands-on involvement in finance system replacement and process improvement.
• Scope to make practical improvements to how the finance function operates.

Application notice

Application notice We take your privacy seriously. As you might expect you may be contacted by email, text or telephone. Your data is processed by our talent partner RR (Recruitment Revolution) on the basis of their legitimate interests in fulfilling the recruitment process. Please refer to their Data Privacy Policy & Notice on our website for further details.

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