Financial Controller

The Collective Network Limited; Cambourne; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Collective Network Limited in Cambridgeshire is seeking a Financial Controller to lead the finance function, reporting to the MD and guiding strategy. You will translate financial information into actionable insights driving profitability, cash management and growth across the business.

You'll oversee budgeting, forecasting and internal controls, partnering with operations to improve efficiency and build robust KPIs for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with broad business understanding.
• Experience at Financial Controller or Finance Manager level.
• Strong management accounting and financial control experience.
• Budgets, forecasting and cash management capability.
• Commercial awareness with ability to challenge senior stakeholders.
• Experience working with operations and non-finance teams.
• Experience in food, FMCG or manufacturing.
• Experience building and developing a finance team.
• Strong analytical and systems skills.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the end-to-end finance function and ensure strong financial control.
• Lead the production of management information for clear performance visibility.
• Drive the annual budget, forecasting and longer-term financial planning.
• Monitor cash, working capital and financial performance, identifying issues.
• Analyse product and customer profitability, margins and cost movements.
• Collaborate with operational teams to identify efficiencies.
• Develop meaningful KPIs and reporting for the SLT.
• Oversee year-end audit, statutory accounts and wider tax/compliance.
• Manage, support and develop the existing finance team.
• Continue to improve processes, controls and systems.

Skills

Financial leadership

Management accounting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Cash management

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Operations collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Financial Controller

Location: Cambridgeshire
Salary: £75,000 + benefits

The Role

We’re working with a successful food manufacturing business that is looking to strengthen its senior finance capability with the appointment of a Financial Controller.

This is a key position within the business, giving you a seat close to the senior leadership team and genuine ownership of the financial performance of the organisation.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring the finance function operates effectively, but equally important will be your ability to turn financial information into actions that improve performance.

Working closely with the Managing Director and wider leadership team, you’ll have visibility across the operation and the opportunity to influence decisions around profitability, costs, cash, investment and growth.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Take ownership of the end-to-end finance function and ensure strong financial control.
• Lead the production of management information that gives the business a clear view of performance.
• Drive the annual budget, forecasting and longer-term financial planning process.
• Monitor cash, working capital and financial performance, identifying areas requiring attention.
• Analyse product and customer profitability, margins and cost movements to support better commercial decisions.
• Work alongside operational teams to identify efficiencies and improve financial performance.
• Develop meaningful KPIs and reporting for the senior leadership team.
• Oversee the year-end audit, statutory accounts and wider tax and compliance requirements.
• Manage, support and develop the existing finance team.
• Continue to improve the processes, controls and systems underpinning the finance function.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) who has developed beyond purely technical finance and enjoys understanding how a business actually operates.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Experience at Financial Controller, Finance Manager or equivalent level.
• Strong management accounting and financial control experience.
• Solid budgeting, forecasting and cash management capability.
• Commercial awareness and the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders.
• Experience working closely with operations and non-finance teams.
• Previous experience within food, FMCG or manufacturing.
• Experience managing and developing a finance team.
• Strong analytical and systems skills.

Why Consider It?

This is a role for someone who wants to be close to the decision-making rather than sitting on the sidelines producing reports.

You’ll have the opportunity to build on what is already in place, improve the visibility and effectiveness of the finance function and become a trusted partner to the MD and wider leadership team.

If you’re a commercially minded finance professional looking for a role where your experience, judgement and ideas will genuinely be listened to, this is worth a conversation.