Finance Manager

Sowena Group; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growing group

Leadership responsibility

Direct exposure to senior stakeholders

Hands-on/entrepreneurial environment

Development opportunities

Job summary

Sowena Group in Merseyside is seeking a Finance Manager to lead day-to-day finance operations and manage a small team while working closely with senior stakeholders. The role offers ownership of financial controls and meaningful input to commercial decisions.

The successful candidate will be ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified with experience in management accounting, and a track record in construction or project-based environments would be advantageous.

Qualifications

• Sophisticated knowledge of accounting standards and month-end processes.
• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent.
• Experience in management accounting and leading a small team.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day finance operations for the construction business.
• Lead, manage, and develop a small finance team (1 Mgt Accountant, 2 Assistants).
• Prepare weekly cash flow forecasts and manage payments and funding.
• Prepare monthly management accounts against budgets and forecasts.
• Review cost reports and support commercial decision-making.
• Oversee revenue recognition, VAT, CIS and payroll returns.
• Ensure statutory reporting and audit readiness.
• Drive improvements to finance processes, controls and systems.
• Collaborate with commercial and operational teams to improve performance.
• Produce ad-hoc financial analysis for planning.

Skills

Advanced Excel

PivotTables

Lookups

Financial analysis

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualified accountant

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

Job Title: Finance Manager

Location: Merseyside

Salary: £60,000-£65,000

Sowena Group are proud to be exclusively partnered with a high-growth, privately owned construction and property group based in Merseyside to appoint a Finance Manager into their growing finance function.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified accountant looking for a broad, hands‑on Finance Manager position within an entrepreneurial and growing business. The successful candidate will take ownership of the day‑to‑day finance function, leading a small team whilst working closely with senior stakeholders across finance, commercial and operations.

With ambitious growth plans and a strong pipeline of projects, this is a key appointment for the business. The role offers genuine scope to influence processes, strengthen financial controls and provide commercial insight to support ongoing growth.

Key Responsibilies

• Take ownership of the day‑to‑day finance operations and transactional activity across the construction business.
• Lead, manage and develop a small finance team consisting of a Management Accountant and two Accounts Assistants.
• Prepare and maintain accurate weekly cash flow forecasts, working closely with the Commercial Director and Financial Controller to manage supply chain payments and funding requirements.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts against project appraisals, budgets and forecasts.
• Review monthly cost reports, providing financial insight into project performance and supporting commercial decision-making.
• Take ownership of the revenue recognition process, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards.
• Prepare, review and submit VAT, CIS and payroll returns, ensuring compliance with construction‑specific requirements.
• Ensure financial reporting and accounting processes comply with statutory requirements and relevant accounting standards.
• Act as the key finance contact throughout the statutory audit process, preparing information and liaising with external auditors.
• Drive improvements across financial processes, controls and systems, supporting the continued development of the finance function.
• Partner closely with commercial and operational teams, providing financial insight, challenging assumptions and identifying opportunities to improve performance.
• Produce ad‑hoc financial analysis and reporting to support business decisions and strategic planning.

Support the wider leadership team with financial information and analysis as the business continues to scale.

About You

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualified accountant.
• Proven experience within a management accounting or Finance Manager position.
• Previous experience within construction, property or another project‑based environment would be highly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of CIS, VAT and revenue recognition.
• Proven experience managing cash flow forecasting and the month‑end close process.
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing junior finance team members.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and a track record of improving finance processes.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookups and financial analysis.
• Confident working with accounting systems and able to adapt to new technology and processes.
• Commercially minded with the ability to work closely with non‑finance stakeholders.

What's on Offer

• Salary of £60,000-£65,000.
• Opportunity to join a growing construction and property group.
• Full ownership of the day‑to‑day finance function.
• Leadership responsibility for a small finance team.
• Direct exposure to senior commercial and operational stakeholders.
• Genuine opportunity to influence processes, controls and the wider finance function.
• A varied, hands‑on role within an entrepreneurial and fast‑paced environment.
• Clear scope to develop alongside the continued growth of the business.