Financial Controller

The Ancient Links; Burnside; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote working from home

Hybrid/venue visits

Job summary

The Ancient Links Golf Company is seeking a commercially minded Financial Controller to join our growing team. You will manage the group’s financial controls, reporting, budgeting and cash flow across venues, with a hands-on approach and a focus on smarter ways of working.

You will partner with the Executive Team and venue managers, implement automated forecasting tools, deliver real-time management information, oversee VAT and audits, and contribute to acquisitions and strategic projects.

Qualifications

• A recognised accountancy qualification or substantial relevant experience.
• Experience in a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or similar senior finance role.
• Strong financial control, management accounting and commercial analysis skills.
• Experience working across multiple entities, venues or business units.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts, budgets, forecasts and cash flow reports across the group.
• Maintain strong financial controls, balance sheet integrity and governance compliance.
• Manage month-end/year-end processes, VAT, audit coordination and wider financial compliance.
• Develop automated processes, integrated systems and more efficient ways of working.
• Design and implement automated budgeting/forecasting tools for forward-looking planning.
• Introduce real-time management information and dashboards with meaningful commercial insight.
• Analyse revenue, margins, staffing costs and operational performance across venues.
• Oversee capital expenditure, project costs and supplier controls.
• Support integration of new venues and strategic projects.

Skills

Financial control

Management accounting

Commercial analysis

Automation/BI experience

Advanced Excel

Multi-venue experience

Education

Recognised accountancy qualification

Job description

Golf Road, Tayport, SA, DD6 9DZ, UNITED KINGDOM

The Ancient Links Golf Company is growing, investing in and operating some of Scotland's most historic golf clubs while protecting the character, traditions and communities that make each venue special.

We are looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Financial Controller to join our team and play a central role in the next stage of our development. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to do more than manage the numbers.

This is an opportunity to help shape a modern, progressive finance function, embracing automation, technology and intelligent management information to drive better business decisions. We want someone who challenges convention, questions existing processes and is passionate about finding smarter ways of working.

This is a permanent role, working 37.5 hours per week, predominantly Monday to Friday, with flexibility to work across our venues and remotely from home.

The Role

Working closely with the Executive Team and venue management, the Financial Controller will take responsibility for the group's financial management ensuring we have the controls, information and insight required to operate effectively and support our continued growth.

Key responsibilities will include:

Preparing monthly management accounts, budgets, forecasts and cash flow reporting across the group.

Maintaining strong financial controls, balance sheet integrity and compliance with our Finance Manual and governance framework.

Managing month-end and year-end processes, VAT, audit coordination and wider financial compliance.

Developing automated processes, integrated systems and more efficient ways of working.

Designing and implementing automated budgeting and forecasting tools that improve accuracy, efficiency and support dynamic, forward-looking financial planning.

Introducing intuitive, increasingly real-time management information and dashboards that provide meaningful commercial insight.

Challenging traditional reporting practices and ensuring financial information supports forward-looking decision-making.

Working closely with venue management to analyse revenue, margins, profitability, staffing costs and operational performance.

Overseeing capital expenditure, project costs, supplier controls and payment processes.

Supporting the financial integration of new venues, ensuring consistent systems, processes and reporting.

Supporting the Executive Team with investment analysis, Board reporting, acquisitions and strategic projects.

This is a hands‑on role. We want someone who takes an active interest in the business, spends time at our venues and understands the operational decisions that drive financial performance.

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

A recognised accountancy qualification or substantial relevant experience.

Previous experience in a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or similar senior finance role.

Strong financial control, management accounting and commercial analysis skills.

Experience working across multiple entities, venues or business units.

Advanced Excel skills and a genuine enthusiasm for technology, automation and business intelligence.

The ability to turn complex financial data into clear, accessible and actionable information.

The confidence to challenge established practices and introduce new ideas.

A proactive, adaptable and collaborative approach and the ambition to help build something better.

Experience in finance transformation, systems development or reporting automation would be particularly advantageous.

Our Culture

We believe that golf's greatest stories should be shared, lived and passed on.

At The Ancient Links Golf Company, you will:

Put customers at the heart of everything you do.

Be part of a team passionate about community benefit and heritage.

Collaborate and innovate to deliver a world-leading golf experience.

Be encouraged to challenge convention and contribute to the continued development of the business.

Commit to continuous personal and professional development.

If you enjoy combining financial discipline with commercial thinking and want to help build a finance function that is as forward-looking as the business it supports, we'd like to hear from you.

The Ancient Links Golf Company is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Screening Questions

• Do you have experience in a similar role?
• Can you travel across multiple remote venues, and work from home?