Finance Manager

Important:

Location: Greater London and surrounding areas.

Application Requirements: Submit your CV in .pdf format only.

Right to work: If an offer of employment is made to you, you will need to produce a piece of valid ID to prove your right to work.

Timeframe: The role will stay open for applicants for a minimum of 1.5 weeks. As a rough guideline, we endeavour to get back to all applicants within 2 weeks.

Please note that we are looking to fill this role as soon as possible.

About Us: Since 2015, ZA/UM Studio has been at the forefront of artistic achievement within the video games industry. Driven by a commitment to video games as an art form and endless intellectual curiosity, we are a studio with a portfolio of projects and a global team of over 80 people.

We are committed to creating narrative-driven games that challenge the boundaries of art and storytelling. We do not shy away from social commentary or challenging industry conventions. The foundation of our artistic pursuits is collective creativity, we view teamwork and camaraderie as essential.

Position overview

The Finance Manager will play a key role in managing financial operations at ZA/UM Studio, reporting to the Head of Finance. This role involves managing day-to-day accounting tasks, preparing management accounts, ensuring compliance with financial regulations, and acting as a key liaison with our parent company. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in finance, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to improve financial processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Day-to-Day Accounting Management: oversee and manage daily accounting tasks, including accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR), ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of automated processes.
• Management Accounts Preparation: prepare monthly management accounts, ensuring accurate cost allocation to specific game development projects.
• UK Accounts Review: review and finalise UK accounts, preparing them for the Head of Finance’s final review and consolidation with the Group accounts.
• VAT Returns and Compliance: prepare VAT returns and ensure timely submission to HMRC, maintaining full compliance with UK tax regulations.
• Payroll and Tax Oversight: assist outsourced accountants with UK payroll processing and ensure compliance with Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR), Corporation Tax (CT), and other tax filings.
• Year-End Audits: Support year-end audits for both UK and Group entities by preparing necessary documentation, facilitating access to financial records, and addressing auditor inquiries.
• Parent Company Liaison: act as the key financial contact for the parent company, aligning financial processes and reporting standards.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: assist the Head of Finance in developing budgets and financial forecasts, providing insights and recommendations based on financial analysis.
• Financial Systems Support: support the rollout of financial systems and contribute to process improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Ad-Hoc Financial Tasks: perform any other ad-hoc tasks and projects as required by management.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.
• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA, or equivalent) with 1+ years of post-qualification experience.
• Proven experience in a finance role, ideally within the gaming industry, SMEs, or start-ups.
• Proficiency in financial software and systems; experience with Xero, Netsuite and automation tools is advantageous.
• Strong ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and organisational levels.

We Offer:

• Competitive salary.
• Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP) - an opportunity to own a part of the company and share in its growth.
• Excellent career development opportunities.
• The chance to work with some of the most exciting people in the video game industry.
• Flexible work model - the ability to work fully remotely, or hybrid from the office, with occasional required in-person meetings.
• Medical and dental cover.
• Christmas closure.

ZA/UM is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. The organisation - in providing goods and/or services and/or facilities - is also committed against unlawful discrimination of customers or the public.