Development Finance Manager

Sheridan Maine; England; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheridan Maine is partnering with a well-established organisation to recruit a Development Finance Manager to join its Finance team. The role oversees financial accounting, control and reporting of a substantial development programme, ensuring projects are accurately accounted for and financial risks are managed.

Offering remote-first working with office attendance in Dorset about twice a month, the successful candidate will work closely with development teams, project managers and stakeholders,

Qualifications

• Qualified with ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA or equivalent.
• Strong background in financial accounting and controls.
• Experience in development accounting and large capital projects.
• Knowledge of VAT, grants, and tax requirements.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong communication and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Own financial accounting and control of development projects.
• Manage WIP, assets under construction, and transfer to fixed assets.
• Review project expenditures for capitalisation and impairments.
• Oversee balance sheet accounts and financial controls.
• Manage grant funding accounting and reporting.
• Handle VAT and CIS compliance for development activities.
• Support month-end and year-end reporting and audits.
• Collaborate with project teams to provide financial guidance.
• Produce analysis to support project performance decisions.
• Identify process improvements across the development programme.

Skills

Financial accounting

Control & reporting

Budgeting & forecasting

Stakeholder management

Excel advanced

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Sheridan Maine is delighted to be partnering with a well-established organisation to recruit a Development Finance Manager to join its Finance team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified accountant with a strong technical accounting background who enjoys working closely with operational teams and providing financial expertise to support significant development projects.

The role will involve overseeing the financial accounting, control and reporting of a substantial development programme, ensuring projects are accurately accounted for, financial risks are managed and stakeholders have the information they need to make informed decisions.

This role provides a great balance of flexibility, offering remote-first working, with office attendance in Dorset typically twice a month.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of the financial accounting and control of development projects, ensuring costs are accurately recorded and reported.
• Managing development work-in-progress (WIP), assets under construction and the transfer of completed projects into fixed assets.
• Reviewing project expenditure to ensure the correct accounting treatment, including capitalisation, impairments and provisions.
• Overseeing development-related balance sheet accounts, reconciliations and financial controls.
• Managing the accounting and reporting of grant funding, ensuring compliance with relevant requirements.
• Taking responsibility for VAT and CIS compliance relating to development and construction activities.
• Supporting month-end and year-end reporting, including statutory accounts preparation and audit requirements.
• Working closely with development teams, project managers and other stakeholders, providing financial guidance and constructive challenge.
• Producing financial analysis and reporting to support project performance and decision-making.
• Identifying opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting and controls across the development programme.

The successful candidate will have:

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
• A strong background in financial accounting, financial control or development accounting, ideally gained within a complex organisation.
• Good technical knowledge of fixed assets, capital expenditure, WIP, impairments and balance sheet management.
• Experience of managing financial reporting, reconciliations and controls, including month-end and year-end processes.
• Knowledge of VAT relating to development or construction activities, together with an understanding of relevant tax requirements.
• Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel capabilities.
• The confidence to work closely with operational and project teams, explaining financial information and providing practical advice.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

Experience within property development, construction or another environment involving significant capital projects would be advantageous, although candidates from other sectors with relevant technical accounting experience are also encouraged to apply.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a collaborative finance team in a varied and influential role, where you'll have the opportunity to contribute to significant development projects whilst helping to strengthen financial controls and improve processes.

If you're a technically strong accountant looking for a role that combines financial control, development accounting and business partnering, with excellent working flexibility, we'd love to hear from you.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK full-time without restriction.