Finance Manager

Ashton Recruitment; North East; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Training and development opportunities

Funded professional development

Job summary

Ashton Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of a well-established specialist services business for an experienced Finance Manager to join its Newry-based team. You will lead a small finance function, report directly to the Finance Director, and be responsible for robust financial controls, management accounts, and commercial analysis across the UK and ROI.

The role requires a fully qualified accountant with at least three years post-qualification experience, strong budgeting and cash-flow skills,

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant required (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience.
• Experience managing or supervising a finance team.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the finance team.
• Oversee month-end close, journals, fixed assets and control-account reconciliations.
• Prepare and present monthly management accounts, KPIs and variance reports.
• Manage weekly cash-flow forecasting, liquidity and working-capital management.
• Ensure statutory and tax compliance across the UK and ROI.
• Lead year-end audit preparation and liaise with external auditors.

Skills

Management accounting

Cash-flow management

Budgeting

Stakeholder communication

WIP / project accounting

Financial analysis

Data analysis

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ERP software

Advanced Excel

Job description

Ashton Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of a well-established specialist services business for an experienced Finance Manager to join its Newry-based team.

Finance Manager

Operating across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, our client manages a busy, project-led operation supported by an extensive workforce, commercial fleet and specialist equipment.

This is a senior, hands‑on position offering full operational responsibility for the day-to-day finance function. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, the Finance Manager will lead the finance team, maintain strong financial controls and deliver the commercial analysis required to support strategic decision‑making.

The successful candidate must be a qualified accountant with experience managing a finance function and a strong understanding of financial and tax requirements across both the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the finance team
• Oversee bank reconciliations, accounts receivable, credit control and other core financial processes
• Maintain robust internal controls and act as final authoriser for supplier payment runs
• Manage the month‑end close process, including journals, fixed assets and control‑account reconciliations
• Prepare and present monthly management accounts, executive summaries, KPIs and variance reports
• Take ownership of weekly cash‑flow forecasting, liquidity and working‑capital management
• Manage relationships with banking partners, including loans, finance facilities and covenant compliance
• Lead the preparation, implementation and monitoring of annual budgets and rolling forecasts
• Analyse project and contract performance, identifying financial risks and opportunities
• Oversee monthly stock valuations and Work in Progress calculations
• Provide clear commercial analysis and recommendations to the Finance Director and senior management team
• Lead preparation for the annual year‑end audit and act as the main contact for external auditors
• Ensure statutory and tax compliance across the UK and Republic of Ireland
• Oversee VAT returns, Construction Industry Scheme reports and Relevant Contracts Tax filings
• Continuously review financial systems, processes and controls to improve efficiency and accuracy
• Fully qualified accountant - ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• At least three years' post‑qualification experience
• Previous experience managing or supervising a finance team
• Strong management accounting, budgeting and cash‑flow experience
• Excellent knowledge of UK and Republic of Ireland tax requirements
• Experience overseeing VAT, CIS and RCT submissions
• Experience with WIP, project accounting or contract‑profitability analysis
• Advanced Excel skills, including financial modelling and data analysis
• Experience using ERP or established accounting software
• Strong commercial awareness and analytical ability
• Confident presenting financial information to senior stakeholders
• Salary of £60,000‑£70,000, depending on experience
• Company pension scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Funded professional development

This opportunity would suit an experienced Finance Manager, Financial Controller or Senior Management Accountant who enjoys combining hands‑on financial control with strategic and commercial input.