Finance Controller

HW Finance; Greater London; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

HW Finance in Central London is seeking a commercially minded Finance Controller to own a finance function ready for its next growth phase. This hands-on leadership role involves strengthening financial processes, improving reporting, and building controls to support scaling the business.

Leading a small finance team, you will partner with the CEO and senior leadership, deliver month-end close, board reporting, forecasting, and investor reporting while coaching the team and driving data-driven

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with professional ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualifications.
• Experience in scale-up or SME environments transforming a finance function.
• Ability to lead as senior finance lead in a growing business.

Responsibilities

• Own the month-end close, management accounts and Board reporting.
• Build and maintain robust cash flow forecasting and visibility of performance.
• Lead the annual audit and year-end process.
• Design and implement financial controls and approvals.
• Partner with HR on payroll related finance activities.
• Provide commercial challenge on spend, hiring and investment decisions.
• Review and improve finance systems and processes to support growth.
• Manage and develop a Finance Associate.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Financial reporting

Cash flow forecasting

Education

ACCA/ACA/CIMA qualification

Tools

Finance systems

ERP systems

Job description

Finance Controller | Central London | Upto £95k

HW Finance are proud to be partnering with a high-growth SME, to help appoint a commercially minded Finance Controller to take ownership of a finance function that's ready for its next stage of growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves. You'll inherit a solid foundation and be responsible for strengthening financial processes, improving reporting, and building the controls needed to support a scaling business.

Leading a small finance team, you'll be equally comfortable delivering the work yourself as you are coaching and developing others. You'll partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, providing the financial insight that drives confident decision-making.

What you'll be doing

• Own the month-end close, management accounts and Board reporting.


• Build and maintain robust cash flow forecasting, ensuring leadership has clear visibility of business performance and runway.


• Lead the annual audit and year-end process.


• Design and implement financial controls, reconciliations and approval processes.


• Partner with HR on payroll-related finance activities.


• Produce investor reporting and support fundraising activities.


• Provide commercial challenge on spending, hiring and investment decisions using data-driven insights.


• Review and improve finance systems and processes to support future growth.


• Manage and develop a Finance Associate.

What we're looking for

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualified accountant.


• Previous experience in a scale-up or SME environment where you've built or transformed a finance function.


• Comfortable acting as the senior finance lead within the business.


• Strong understanding of finance systems and process improvement.


• Confident presenting financial information to senior stakeholders, Board members and investors.


• Commercially astute with the confidence to challenge constructively.


• Pragmatic, proactive and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment.

What success looks like

Within your first six months you will have:

• Successfully taken ownership of the finance function and year-end process.


• Delivered reliable and trusted cash flow forecasting.


• Implemented robust financial controls and improved governance.


• Established accurate, insightful and timely Board reporting.


• Built strong relationships across the business as a trusted commercial partner.

This is an opportunity to have genuine influence within a growing business. You'll work directly with the CEO and leadership team, helping shape strategic decisions while building a finance function that can scale with the organisation.

If you're someone who enjoys creating structure from complexity, thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and wants to make a visible impact, we'd love to hear from you.