About Us

AMCI Europe is part of the AMCI Global organisation, based in Los Angeles, USA, where it started more than 30 years ago. To our knowledge, AMCI is the only specialist automotive experiential marketing, training and communications agency network in the world.

The letters AMCI originally stood for 'Automotive Marketing Consultants Incorporated’. Essentially, that means that automobiles are at the core of everything AMCI does. Primarily, our business at first was dedicated to testing new vehicles to accredit advertising claims as to their competitive difference. AMCI was able to validate if a manufacturer claim was authentic or not, suggesting ideas of how to meet the claim if the product fell short or alternative attributes of the vehicle’s performance that would comprise alternative, validated claims. This has given AMCI a reputation for thoroughness and credibility as specialists in the automotive sector.

Since then, AMCI has diversified into consumer promotions, experiential marketing and events - primarily focusing on product launches and the power of creating marketing-based driving experiences that communicate the brand and/or product messages and provide participants with a positive and memorable experience that delivers warm, well-informed prospects to dealers and accelerates the purchase process.

About The Opportunity

This role provides an exciting opportunity for a Project Accountant with a proven track record in a similar role to join a growing company working across a broad range of projects for a variety of automotive clients.

As part of the 5-person finance team you will work closely with the UK the head of department to oversee the finance function in the UK office and help to supervise the two accounting staff members and supporting the department in general.

The UK finance team report to our US head office so you will work closely with very supportive team based in LA.

Events regularly delivered by AMCI include press launches, conferences, dealer training events and general experiential marketing activity in the UK, often across Europe and sometimes beyond. This means that some budget reconciliations involve costs in multiple currencies and therefore accurate translation of these costs is key. Budgets can range from £10,000 to £1,000,000.

The ideal candidate will need to be able to work under pressure at times, have extremely good communication skills and a sharp attention to detail. A positive and flexible attitude is paramount, as is an exceptionally organised, methodical approach and an ability to plan their own time well. Working alongside the head of department to oversee the finance function in the UK office and help to supervise the three accounting staff members.

Responsibilities

• Applies the principles of accounting and contracts as part of the project team.
• Responsible for setting up project job numbers, monitoring changes in budgets, ensuring we obtain correct/sufficient client approval of budgets and changes.
• Review budgets before being sent to clients to ensure they are error free and in line with our normal rates and policies.
• Ensure compliance with the clients’ financial and contract practices.
• Responsible for complete and accurate reconciliations of each event budget in a timely manner, working closely with Project Managers to achieve this.
• Raising sales invoices and distributing to the clients.
• Active review of aged debtors and liaison with clients regarding overdue invoices.
• Preparation of Rebate invoices.
• Carry out due diligence and review clients to minimise bad debt exposure.
• Posting payments to the ledgers, setting up urgent supplier payments and staff expense payments.
• Prepare a basic weekly cash flow forecast for the CFO, FD & MD.
• Prepare the monthly freelancer payment run.
• Prepare the quarterly VAT return.
• Monthly review of completed event profit margins ensuring correct cost coding and review of unbilled revenue for the DF.
• Preparation of other month end reports such as GBP & Euro bank reconciliations, GL reconciliations, project pitch costs reporting and client asset register
• Maintain accurate, current, detailed records and prepare periodic and ad-hoc reports for the MD, Project Managers and DF as required.

About You

• Accounting/Finance degree, similar qualification (ACCA/ACA) or qualified by experience
• Minimum 2 years’ of relevant experience managing numerous jobs / projects at the same time
• Must have considerable knowledge with basic accounting principles (i.e. Journal entries, debits, credits, etc.) and accounting functions. Accurate recording of job costs and reconciliations are key for this position
• Ability to work independently and complete duties and projects with little direct supervision
• Ability to work accurately under pressure in meeting deadlines
• Must have excellent organisational skills
• Must be proficient with Excel ( V-lookup and Pivot Tables)
• Good understanding of VAT and VAT returns and some basic understanding of PSA rules related to the company transactions