Commercial Finance Controller | Strategy & Controls

Freshwater UK Limited; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Freshwater UK Limited is seeking an experienced Finance Controller to lead the finance function and partner with senior stakeholders. You will drive commercial insight, budgeting, forecasting and robust financial controls across the business, including the agency and events divisions.

You will manage a small finance team, oversee invoicing processes and VAT/tax matters, and collaborate with Directors to translate activity into realistic budgets and delivery plans.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Master’s qualification would be an advantage.
• Strong understanding of financial principles and accounting standards.
• Excellent communication skills with the credibility to present financial information to non‑financial stakeholders.
• Proven experience in a Financial Controller role, ideally in the communications or creative sector.
• Experience with invoicing and managing accounting systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance function for the company and ensure compliance with financial regulations and billing standards.
• Prepare monthly management accounts across Freshwater and WCC, including P&L analysis, balance sheet reviews and key metric reporting.
• Analyse performance against budgets and forecasts and provide actionable commercial insights.
• Monitor and control costs and identify efficiency improvements and cost-saving opportunities.
• Line manage the Finance team and liaise with auditors and external suppliers.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and tender costing activities with Directors.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Deadline driven

Detail oriented

Process improvement

Stakeholder comms

Negotiation

Financial planning

Problem solving

Logical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Master’s degree (advantage)

Tools

Synergist

Active HR

Accounting software

Job description

Freshwater UK Limited is seeking an experienced Finance Controller to lead the finance function and partner with senior stakeholders. You will drive commercial insight, budgeting, forecasting and robust financial controls across the business, including the agency and events divisions.

You will manage a small finance team, oversee invoicing processes and VAT/tax matters, and collaborate with Directors to translate activity into realistic budgets and delivery plans.