Job Title: Finance Apprentice || Location: Ireland || Department: Finance || Reports To: Senior Finance & Cost Accountant

Job Purpose

The Finance Apprentice will support the finance team in delivering accurate financial reporting, analysis, and business support while gaining broad exposure across accounting, budgeting, compliance, and financial operations. This role is ideal for a person seeking to develop a career in finance within a dynamic business environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation of monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Support the month-end and year-end close processes.
• Prepare account reconciliations to ensure proper balance sheet valuation, with appropriate accounting treatment for potential risk.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities.
• Process journals related to manufacturing accounting and maintain accurate financial records.
• Support accounts payable and accounts receivable functions as required.
• Assist with statutory audits and ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures.
• Liaising with External & Internal auditors
• Analyse financial data and provide insights to support business decision-making.
• Maintain accurate financial documentation and records.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the finance function.
• Bi-Monthly VAT Return
• Submission of Quarterly / Annual CSO Reporting
• Calculate Standard Costing of products in SAP, including reviewing appropriate update of Bill of Materials, routings etc
• Accurate preparation and execution of departmental recharges to other group companies
• Monitor and analyse operational labour efficiency metrics, identifying trends, variances, and opportunities to improve workforce productivity.
• Produce regular labour efficiency reports, including labour utilisation, productivity, and cost performance against operational targets.
• Partner with operational managers to investigate labour variances and recommend actions to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Develop and maintain labour efficiency KPIs and dashboards to support operational decision-making.
• Manage the end-to-end accounting process for capital expenditure (CAPEX).
• Review and assess expenditure to determine whether costs should be capitalised or expensed in line with applicable accounting standards and company policy.
• Capitalise completed projects and assets within the fixed asset register.
• Maintain the fixed asset register, ensuring additions, disposals, transfers, depreciation, and impairments are accurately recorded.
• Reconcile fixed asset balances to the general ledger on a monthly basis.
• Monitor capital projects against approved budgets and provide regular CAPEX reporting to budget holders and senior management.
• Work closely with operational teams and project managers to ensure timely project closure and asset capitalisation.
• Ad-hoc reporting as required

Reporting Responsibilities

• Prepare and distribute weekly and monthly financial reports to management.
• Assist in producing KPI and performance reporting packs.
• Monitor financial performance against budget and forecast, highlighting key variances.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting.

Skills & Experience

• Previous experience working in a Finance department
• Familiar and comfortable with month end close tasks & deadlines
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; knowledge of SAP systems preferable.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to study towards a professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CPA) is a must.

Personal Attributes

• Eager to learn and develop professionally.
• Proactive with a positive attitude.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.