Finance Controller

Cotswolds Distillery; Stourton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cotswolds Distillery, based in Stourton, England, is seeking a Finance Controller to join our growing premium spirits brand. Reporting to the CFO, you will own the day-to-day finance function and drive robust controls, reporting, and commercial insight.

You will lead month-end close, manage budgets and cashflow, oversee payroll and tax, coordinate year-end processes with auditors, and partner with senior leadership to turn data into strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACA/ACCA with experience as Financial Controller in SME or fast-moving environment.
• Hands-on, ownership mindset and entrepreneurial approach.
• Ability to connect financial detail to the big picture and communicate with senior stakeholders.
• Strong IT skills and comfort with data-driven process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day finance operations including AP/AR, bank reconciliations, GL maintenance.
• Lead month-end close and produce management accounts with commentary for senior management.
• Manage cashflow, budgets and forecasts; oversee payroll, tax and year-end activities.
• Coordinate year-end processes with auditors and tax advisers; maintain statutory filings (VAT).
• Prepare financial information for the Board and investors; support business expansion and new systems.

Skills

Financial controls

Month-end close

Financial analysis

Stakeholder communication

Strategic planning

Education

ACA/ACCA qualification

Tools

Excel

Xero

Unleashed

Shopify

Job description

This is your chance to shape the financial future of an exceptional Cotswolds Spirits Brand.

Be part of something exceptional

Since opening our doors in 2014, Cotswolds Distillery has grown from a bold idea into one of England's leading premium spirits producers.

Born from a love of whisky and the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, our journey began with a simple ambition: to make exceptional spirits in a place we love. Today, we proudly produce award-winning single malt whisky and gin, combining traditional craftsmanship with innovation, an uncompromising approach to quality and a genuine passion for what we do.

We are an ambitious, fast-growing business with our sights firmly set on the future – and we're looking for an exceptional Finance Controller to join our team and play an important role in that journey.

The Role

Reporting to our CFO, the Finance Controller will take ownership of the efficient running of our day-to-day finance function, ensuring strong financial control, accurate reporting and robust processes across the business.

This is a hands-on and commercially focused role, offering the opportunity to work closely with our senior leadership team and contribute directly to the continued growth and development of the business.

You’ll be responsible for leading the month-end process, producing management accounts and financial analysis, managing cashflow, budgets and forecasts, overseeing payroll, tax and year-end activities, and ensuring our financial controls and processes continue to evolve as we scale.

You’ll also work closely with department leads, providing meaningful insight into financial performance and helping turn financial information into clear, commercially useful decisions.

This is much more than a reporting role. We are looking for someone who can connect the detail to the bigger picture, challenge constructively and become a trusted partner to the wider business.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Overseeing all day-to-day finance operations, including AP, AR, bank reconciliations, system reconciliations and general ledger maintenance, supported by the Finance Administrator.
• Leading the month-end process and preparing accurate management accounts, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow and prepare commentary for senior management and the board.
• Analyzing financial performance and variances against budgets and forecasts, providing insights and recommendations to senior management with sufficient detail e.g. volume, price, mix on revenue drivers and drivers of costs, including overheads.
• Short-term cashflow management, manage the short- and medium-term cashflow forecasting ensuring sufficient cash resources.
• Preparing annual budgets and periodic latest estimates alongside department leads to ensure accuracy and alignment with objectives.
• Managing monthly payroll and pension contributions.
• Review monthly payment run for authorisation by the CFO and transition to approvals at the PO stage.
• Coordinating year-end processes and acting as the main point of contact for auditors.
• Managing preparation and submission of all tax filings. (VAT and duty Payments).
• Maintaining strong relationships with our accountants, tax advisers, auditors, bank and insurance partners.
• Responsibility for company secretarial duties, including Company House filing etc.
• Managing reporting to bank including monthly borrowing base certificates, bi-annual audits and annual renewals of the facility.
• Preparing financial information for the Board, investors and investment memorandums for potential investors.
• Co-ordinate the processing of the bi-annual founders interest payments including preparation of the CT61 and issue share certificates.
• Manage Shareholder relations and EMI scheme
• Ensuring monthly reconciliation of accounts, inventory and POS systems.
• Overseeing and supporting our Finance Administrator.
• Undertake ad hoc financial analysis and projects as requested by senior management.
• Ensuring robust and appropriate internal controls are maintained and evolved
• Supporting business expansion, new systems, processes, geographies, tax and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with leadership to improve financial systems and processes in line with business scaling.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be a qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA) with proven experience working as a Financial Controller, ideally within an SME or similarly fast-moving environment.

More importantly, you’ll be someone who takes ownership, enjoys being hands-on and is comfortable working in an entrepreneurial business where things can move quickly. You will be:-

• A great planner to manage deadlines within the team and wider business
• Have a growth mindset – continued effort and action for the win!
• You take ownership of your work from end to end
• Show curiosity to learn and discover
• Demonstrate tenacity and the ability to bounce forward from the unexpected.
• Ability to connect the details to the big picture and help communicate complex financial messages to senior stakeholders.
• You will enjoy using technology and data to improve and streamline your work
• Strong IT skills including Excel, Microsoft, Xero and Unleashed
• Experience with Shopify advantageous.
• A positive can-do attitude and ability to prioritize.

Why Cotswolds Distillery?

We're proud of what we've built, but we're even more excited about where we're going.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do: going the extra mile, taking pride in our brand, striving for excellence and thinking like entrepreneurs. We believe that being a premium brand means paying attention to every detail – from the quality of what's in the bottle to the way we work together as a team.

If you're an ambitious finance professional looking for a role where you can combine technical expertise with commercial thinking, and where you can help shape the financial future of an exciting and growing premium brand, we'd love to hear from you.

JOIN US.

This role is based on site at the Stourton office CV36 5EX