SALARY: £45,000 - £52,000 DOE
HOURS: 37.5 per week, Monday – Friday/hybrid
LOCATION: Albert Road, Bristol
Commercial Accountant
About Bristol Waste Company:
What we do is important – we’re here to keep Bristol, and beyond, clean, and safe.
We do this for our city’s residents, workers, visitors, and businesses. Our work helps deliver Bristol’s sustainability targets in partnership with the council.
Bristol Waste’s commercial operation, where we serve businesses and organisations across the region, is also growing.
Our ambition is to provide good quality, value for money services, and we continue to deliver a social value impact worth more than £30 million every year.
We want people who share our values and want to work with us to drive our business forward.
Purpose of the role:
The Commercial Accountant will play a crucial role in managing financial processes, reporting, and analysis for the Facilities Management and Commercial business units.
This role involves ensuring accurate financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance, while also providing commercial insights to support business decisions.
The post holder will work closely with operational and senior management teams to drive financial performance, efficiency, and strategic planning.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Reporting & Month-End Management
* Manage the month-end process for Facilities Management and Commercial business units, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
* Prepare and review monthly financial statements, management accounts, and variance analysis to support decision-making.
* Ensure compliance with accounting standards, policies, and internal controls.
* Support the year-end audit process, liaising with external auditors and ensuring accurate financial records.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning
* Lead the budgeting process for the Facilities Management and Commercial business units, working closely with key stakeholders.
* Work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including operations managers, auditors, regulators, and tax advisors.
* Provide financial training and support to non-financial managers to enhance financial understanding across the business.
Commercial & Business Support
* Provide commercial insight and financial analysis to senior management, linking financial reports to business strategy.
* Deliver analysis on business opportunities (e.g. tenders), helping management understand potential impacts.
* Develop and maintain strong partnerships with operational teams, offering financial guidance to drive efficiencies and improve business performance.
* Support commercial decision-making by ensuring that financial data and business insights are clear, accurate, and actionable.
Financial Controls & Compliance
* Maintain and improve financial controls, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements.
* Identify and implement process improvements to enhance reporting accuracy and operational efficiency.
* Ensure effective commercial procedures are in place to support key operational and financial targets.
Team Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
* Line manages one member of the finance team, supporting their development and ensuring high performance.
* Work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including operations managers, auditors, regulators, and tax advisors.
Other Responsibilities
* Deputise for the Financial Controller as needed.
* Ensure a safe and compliant working environment, following company policies and health & safety guidelines.
* Support the business with ad-hoc financial projects as required.
Essential Requirements for the Role:
* ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified accountant
* Experience in a similar role as a Commercial Accountant or Financial Reporting Role
* Strong financial reporting, budgeting, and analysis skills, with a commercial mindset.
* Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and financial modelling.
* Experience with Sage 200 or similar accounting systems.
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
* Strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality financial reporting.
* Ability to challenge current processes, drive efficiencies, and deliver improvements.
* Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently or as part of a team.
Full Job Description can be provided upon request.
Our Benefits:
* Annual leave package of 25 days plus 8 bank holidays.
* Employer contribution of 5% into the company pension scheme.
* Support for Mental Health, including a BUPA Employee Assistance Programme that provides support covering Mental Health, Financial and Family related topics. We also have Mental Health First Aiders across the business.
* Support for your Physical Health with our BUPA Health Cash Plan (we cover the cost of coverage for you), Cycle to Work scheme and an onsite Physiotherapist. All are free for our colleagues.
* Because we value our colleagues, we want to recruit more employees just like them, which is why we have our employee referral scheme.
* Dedicated learning and development team. We take pride in developing our colleagues and some examples of this include our In-House Driver Development Programme and internal promotions. Many of our Senior Leadership Team have developed from Operational roles, such as one of our Contract Managers who started as a Street Cleanser.
* Employee recognition ‘Stand Out Award’ and long service awards. To celebrate our colleagues wherever they are on their journey with us, we recognise and celebrate talent.
* We recognise that everyone is different and strive to create an environment that supports all colleagues through flexible working. We have introduced a hybrid working model where possible and actively encourage part-time working, job sharing and flexibility on hours. If this interests, you please do get in touch, and we can start a conversation.
Everyone belongs:
At Bristol Waste everyone belongs – we are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation.
We give fair and equal consideration to all applications.
We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence.
Important note on applying:
* Please apply as soon as possible and before 23:59 on the closing date. Sometimes we close vacancies early if we receive a high number of quality applications.
* Due to the high volume of interest, we won’t be able to receive late applications and we are currently unable to respond to all who apply.
* If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, it unfortunately means you won’t be invited to interview on this occasion.
Contact us:
Please contact our People Services team to discuss this role, your application, or any reasonable adjustments and support in applying for this position:
* recruitment@bristolwastecompany.co.uk
* 0117 440 6676
Thank you for your interest in joining Bristol Waste Company.