Junior Accountant

About DUCIE DUCIE is a London-based luxury outerwear brand known for statement shearling, leather, suede and faux fur. Founder-led and in a high-growth phase, the business is expanding internationally across DTC ecommerce, wholesale and marketplace channels. DUCIE sells globally through its own ecommerce business alongside a growing network of leading international retailers and marketplaces. We are a small, ambitious and highly hands-on team, so this role offers exposure across the commercial mechanics of building and scaling a global fashion business. About the role We are seeking a hands-on Junior Accountant to maintain accurate financial records, monitor cash daily and provide reliable reporting across our trading channels. Working closely with the CFO and the wider DUCIE team, you will take day-to-day responsibility for bookkeeping in Xero and Dext, trading reconciliations, cash flow forecasting, and retail and wholesale margin analysis. The role will work closely across ecommerce, wholesale, production and operations, giving the successful candidate visibility across the full financial and commercial operation of the business. Key responsibilities Bookkeeping and financial records

• Maintain the day-to-day books in Xero, using Dext to capture, check and code supplier invoices, receipts and expenses with accurate supporting records.
• Manage purchase and sales ledgers, raise wholesale invoices and credit notes, allocate receipts, reconcile supplier statements and follow up overdue customer balances.
• Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, payment processors and foreign currency balances; investigate differences and keep clearing accounts up to date.
• Prepare supplier payment schedules and payment runs for approval, checking due dates, available cash and supporting documentation.
• Support month-end close with accruals, prepayments, approved journals and balance sheet reconciliations; maintain records for VAT reporting and external accountant review. This is a first-class opportunity for an ambitious junior accountant to learn in detail about the challenging mechanics, bookkeeping and accounting in omni-channel premium global fashion and to develop a high-value and portable skill set in this exciting industry. Daily cash monitoring and forecasting
• Monitor bank balances, available cash, ecommerce settlements, wholesale receipts and scheduled payments daily; provide a concise cash position update and flag emerging shortfalls promptly.
• Maintain a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast, updated at least weekly and whenever material changes arise, covering customer receipts, stock commitments, supplier payments, freight, payroll and tax payments.
• Compare actual cash movements with forecast, explain variances and update assumptions for payment timing, trading performance, seasonality and foreign currency exposure.
• Work with wholesale, ecommerce and operations colleagues to confirm expected receipts and commitments, and prepare cash scenarios for review by the senior finance lead. Ecommerce and wholesale reconciliations
• Reconcile Shopify sales, discounts, returns, refunds, taxes and shipping income to payment processor settlements, bank receipts and Xero; identify fees, chargebacks and settlement timing differences.
• Reconcile wholesale orders, dispatches, invoices, credit notes, returns and receipts against trading reports from logistics partners and internal sales records.
• Match third-party logistics reports for shipments, returns and stock movements to Shopify, wholesale records and accounting entries; investigate missing, duplicate or inconsistent transactions.
• Check logistics invoices against agreed rates and reported activity, resolve discrepancies with partners and maintain a clear record of outstanding reconciliation items.
• Support reconciliation and reporting across DUCIE's growing marketplace business alongside DTC ecommerce and wholesale channels. Margin analysis and commercial reporting
• Prepare regular retail and wholesale margin analysis by channel, product or SKU, collection, customer and market where data is available.
• Calculate gross margin using net sales excluding VAT or sales tax, after discounts and returns, and the agreed product cost basis; analyse contribution after relevant channel costs separately.
• Track landed product costs and relevant freight, duty, fulfilment, payment processing and commission costs, applying consistent definitions and avoiding double counting.
• Explain margin movements caused by markdowns, returns, cost changes, foreign exchange and sales mix, and flag loss-making products, customers or channels.
• Support monthly management reporting with sales, margin, cash, aged debtor and creditor schedules, and concise commentary on significant variances. Controls and teamwork
• Maintain clear audit trails and organised financial records, follow approval procedures and handle commercial and financial information confidentially.
• Work closely with ecommerce, wholesale, merchandising, production and logistics teams to improve data accuracy and resolve issues promptly.
• Identify practical improvements to reporting and reconciliation processes, making effective use of Xero, Dext and spreadsheets.
• Be comfortable working within a small, fast-moving, founder-led business where priorities can move quickly and everyone is expected to be hands-on and take ownership. Skills and experience Essential
• Practical bookkeeping or junior finance experience, with a sound understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, bank reconciliations and purchase and sales ledgers.
• Working knowledge of Xero and Dext, and confidence handling transaction data from multiple sources.
• Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills, including lookups, SUMIFS, pivot tables and reconciliation of large datasets.
• Ability to prepare and maintain cash forecasts and understand the difference between profit, margin and cash flow.
• High attention to detail, clear communication and the ability to prioritise daily tasks alongside month-end deadlines.
• AAT studies or qualification, early-stage ACCA or CIMA studies, or equivalent practical experience. Desirable
• Prior exposure to fashion, retail, ecommerce or wholesale, ideally within a business trading internationally.
• Familiarity with Shopify, payment processor settlements, third-party logistics reports and stock accounting.
• Experience with multiple currencies, landed costs, seasonal stock purchasing and retail or wholesale margin reporting.
• Experience within a growing, entrepreneurial or founder-led business would be advantageous. What success looks like Accurate, up-to-date books; a reliable daily cash position and rolling forecast; timely reconciliation of ecommerce, marketplace and wholesale activity; clear retail and wholesale margin reporting; and prompt escalation of discrepancies and cash risks. Beyond this, success at DUCIE means becoming a trusted and dependable member of the team who understands how the different areas of the business connect financially and helps provide the accurate information needed to support fast, commercially sound decisions. Support and responsibility The role owns routine processing, reconciliations and preparation of forecasts and analysis, with review and coaching from the CFO. Payment release, changes to accounting policies, complex tax matters and final approval of management reporting remain with CFO.