Head of Financial Accounting

This is a great opportunity to join a market‑leading, fast‑paced, and rapidly expanding business. With multi‑channel growth, major investment in a new distribution centre, and a pipeline of new branches, this is a rare chance to join a business, led by a highly experienced senior management team, that’s scaling with real momentum.

You will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of monthly management accounts and statutory reporting. You will manage and develop a high‑performing team, own the month‑end close process, and act as the primary contact for external auditors.

This is a hands‑on, fast‑paced position suited to a technically strong, detail‑oriented and commercially curious accounting leader.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach and mentor a team of six (mix of qualified and part qualified accountants)
• Support personal development plans, drive capability uplift and foster a high‑performance culture.
• Promote curiosity, continuous improvement and best‑practice financial control.

Month-End Close (Working Day 4)

• Coordinate the end‑to‑end month‑end close process, collaborating closely with FP&A, AP, AR, and Treasury teams.
• Oversee preparation and review of P&L, Balance Sheet and supporting reconciliations and schedules.
• Ensure all journal entries are fully supported, accurate and complete.

Financial Accounting & Statutory Reporting

• Prepare annual statutory financial statements (consolidated and single entity) in compliance with appropriate GAAP.
• Act as the primary audit contact, managing all audit queries and deliverables.
• Lead implementation of changes to accounting standards and financial reporting requirements.

Balance Sheet Control

• Full ownership of the Balance Sheet, ensuring complete, timely and accurate reconciliation of all accounts.
• Identify and manage risks, opportunities and required remediation actions.
• Maintain robust accounting controls and documentation.

Tax & Compliance

• Own VAT return preparation and submission.
• Working with our external tax advisors, prepare supporting accounting information for corporation tax returns.
• Engage effectively with audit teams, external tax advisors and HMRC.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Drive end‑to‑end process improvements across financial accounting and controls taking a risk-based approach aligned to a multi-site distribution and retail business
• Challenge the status quo and introduce scalable processes suitable for a high‑growth, multi‑site environment.
• Contribute to ad‑hoc projects and business initiatives, including systems enhancements, integrations, and PE-related reporting needs.

About You

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Big 4 / Top 10 practice background preferred
• Minimum 3 years PQE, with demonstrable experience in industry
• Strong technical accounting knowledge
• Experience managing, coaching and developing teams
• Proven ability to deliver under tight deadlines and manage conflicting priorities
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong analytical skills
• Solution‑focused with a “can‑do” attitude and continuous improvement mindset, confident in challenging existing processes
• Effective communicator who can build strong relationships across the business

Desirable

• Experience in distribution, logistics, or multi‑site retail businesses
• Exposure to PE‑backed environments and fast‑growth operational models

About Us

GSF Car Parts is one of the UK’s leading automotive parts distributors, supplying thousands of independent garages throughout the UK and Ireland with parts, tools, garage equipment and specialist training. The group has over 211 branches nationwide and a turnover exceeding £475 million. Built on the heritage and success of a dozen local brand identities acquired over several years, we have traded as one brand since November 2021. Our branch network is bolstered by centralised support and expertise from specialist departments in key areas such as procurement and supply chain, marketing and national accounts. The business also benefits from integrated IT systems, which include our industry leading catalogue system, Allicat, and access to the Group's national garage programme, Servicesure

#INDGSF