Legal Accounting Manager

Legal Accounting Manager
£50,000 - £60,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 5) 
Bristol, Aztec West,  BS32 4SD - in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office two days per week (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).  

We’re looking for a Legal Accounting Manager to join our Co op Legal Services Finance team at an exciting time of growth and change. In this role, you’ll lead a small team and oversee complex accounting processes, with a particular focus on the accurate management of client and business accounts within a regulated legal services environment. You’ll work across daily, monthly and year end activity, providing strong oversight and supporting the business as it continues to grow.

Why this role matters

This role plays a vital part in protecting client funds and maintaining the trust that sits at the heart of our legal services. We manage significant volumes of client money and business payments across thousands of live cases, meaning robust controls, clear oversight and sound judgement are essential. You’ll help manage regulatory and financial risk, support continuous improvement, and bring clarity to complexity, making a real difference in a fast growing and changing business.

What you’ll do

•    Lead and oversee day‑to‑day legal accounting activities, including client and business balance sheet reconciliations
•    Maintain strong financial controls through the production and oversight of complex balance sheet, client bank and supplier reconciliations
•    Make sure the right controls and procedures are in place to meet regulatory, accounting and Co‑op Group requirements, with a strong focus on best practice
•    Manage period‑end accounting, including journals and reconciliations across multiple systems
•    Support, lead and develop a team of five, providing guidance, coaching and oversight in a high‑volume environment
•    Monitor, investigate and resolve discrepancies, identifying root causes and improving processes
•    Play a key role in audits and regulatory reporting, working closely with internal and external stakeholders

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    A recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)
•    Strong understanding of core accounting principles, with experience managing complex balance sheets
•    Experience working with large volumes of financial data and high transaction volumes
•    The ability to put effective financial controls in place and operate them confidently within a regulated environment
•    Strong Excel skills and an analytical, problem‑solving approach
•    Leadership skills, with the ability to support, develop and motivate a team
•    Clear communication skills, with the confidence to explain complex information simply

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    Private healthcare
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.