Financial Controller

Howett Thorpe; Byfleet; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days holiday

Formal bonus scheme

Regular pay reviews and appraisals

Auto-enrolment pension scheme

On-site car parking

Job summary

Howett Thorpe seeks a Financial Controller to own the finance function across its SME group. The role is office-based in Weybridge, offering a hands-on finance leadership position with two direct reports and close collaboration with leadership to drive strategic decisions.

You will manage month-end, forecasting, and year-end duties, ensure robust controls, and oversee VAT and R&D tax claims while developing the finance team and improving processes.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with manufacturing sector experience.
• Track record of managing a finance function and small team.
• Strong experience in management accounts and financial reporting.
• Experience improving financial controls and processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end and prepare monthly management accounts and board reports.
• Produce financial forecasts and support business planning.
• Coordinate year-end figures with external accountants and HMRC.
• Oversee VAT returns, deferred VAT and import duty accounts.
• Manage purchase and sales ledgers, and credit control.
• Develop and coach the finance team and improve reporting.

Skills

Management accounts

Financial reporting

Financial controls

Team leadership

Excel

Education

Qualified accountant (ACCA/CA/CIMA)

Qualified by experience

Tools

ERP systems

Excel advanced

Job description

An opportunity has become available for a Financial Controller to take ownership of the finance function across a group of thriving SME businesses. With a collaborative working culture and a strong emphasis on employee engagement, this business offers the opportunity to work closely with the leadership and contribute to its continued development.

This position will suit someone who enjoys the breadth of working within an SME: remaining hands-on with the accounts while providing financial insight to support strategic decisions. You will also lead, nurture and develop two members of the finance team.

Job Title: Financial Controller

Location: Weybridge Office based

Salary: £65,000 £100,000

Type: Permanent

Reference: 16194

This position is fully office based in Weybridge.

Financial Controller Benefits

• 22 days holiday.
• Formal bonus scheme, alongside discretionary spot bonuses throughout the year.
• Regular pay reviews and appraisals.
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme.
• On-site car parking.

Financial Controller About the role

You will have overall responsibility for the accounting functions, financial records and reporting across this multi-company organisation. Supported by an Accounts Assistant and a colleague responsible for management accounts and payroll, you will ensure the finance function operates accurately and efficiently.

Working closely with the leadership team, you will provide clear reporting on financial performance, maintain effective controls and develop processes and systems to support the organisation s expansion. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading month-end and preparing monthly management accounts, sales reports and additional analysis for the Board.
• Producing financial forecasts and interpreting results to support business planning and decision-making.
• Preparing year-end figures and liaising with external accountants, auditors and HMRC as required.
• Overseeing multi-currency nominal ledgers, journal postings, bank reconciliations and control account reconciliations.
• Managing VAT returns and administering deferred VAT and import duty accounts.
• Coordinating the preparation of R&D tax claims.
• Overseeing purchase ledger, sales ledger and credit control activities, ensuring timely payments and effective debt collection.
• Ensuring accounting and payroll records are accurately maintained.
• Calculating and reviewing quarterly bonus and commission figures for Director approval.
• Overseeing the fixed asset register, depreciation and associated reconciliations.
• Working with other departments to ensure information from the ERP modules feeds accurately into the nominal ledger.
• Developing the finance team and improving accounting processes, systems and reporting.

Financial Controller About you

You will be a qualified accountant or qualified by experience, with manufacturing sector experience and a track record of managing a finance function and a small team. You will enjoy taking ownership, be comfortable working through the detail and have the confidence to explain financial performance clearly to the Board. You will bring:

• Strong experience of management accounts, financial reporting and financial controls.
• A practical, hands-on approach to running a finance department.
• The ability to support and develop colleagues while managing competing deadlines.
• Strong accounting systems knowledge and confidence using Microsoft Excel.
• Experience of improving processes and adapting a finance function to meet changing business needs.
• Experience of working within manufacturing
• Knowledge of R&D Tax Claims
• Minimum of 10 years experience of working within a finance team