Financial Controller

Bournemouth Airport; Christchurch; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Bournemouth Airport is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to join the senior management team. The role involves leading financial management and reporting across the business, delivering timely management information and supporting strategic decision-making.

Reporting to MD and Finance Director, you will drive continuous improvement, manage a small finance team, and partner with senior stakeholders to translate financial data into business insight.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with strong technical accounting skills and experience in management reporting.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting and medium-term planning.
• Proven ability to provide financial analysis to support strategic decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Produce monthly management accounts (P&L, balance sheet, cashflow) and present results to management.
• Lead annual budgets and regular forecasts; contribute to medium-term business planning.
• Support department heads with financial analysis for commercial decisions.
• Lead year-end processes and liaise with external auditors; ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations.
• Enhance financial reporting processes, controls and systems for efficiency.

Skills

Financial analysis

Financial modelling

Budgets & forecasts

Business partnering

Attention to detail

Communication

Team leadership

Education

ACA/ICAEW/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Sage X3

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Bournemouth Airport is seeking an experienced, commercially focused and qualified Financial Controller to join our senior management team.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director and Finance Director, you will play a key role in providing financial leadership, delivering high-quality management information, supporting strategic decision-making and driving continuous improvement across the business.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified accountant who enjoys working in a dynamic operational environment and wishes to make a visible impact within a growing airport business.

The Role

As Financial Controller, you will be responsible for the overall financial management and reporting of the airport, ensuring that management receives timely, accurate and insightful financial information to support business performance.

Key responsibilities include:

• Production and presentation of monthly management accounts, including profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow reporting.
• Analysis of financial performance, identifying trends and explaining variances against budget and forecast.
• Preparation of annual budgets, regular forecasts and contributions to medium-term business planning.
• Supporting managers and department heads with financial analysis and commercial decision-making.
• Monitoring and managing cashflow requirements and overseeing credit control activities.
• Preparing year-end financial statements and acting as the lead contact for external auditors.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant accounting standards, statutory requirements and financial regulations.
• Providing financial reporting and analysis to the wider airport group finance team.
• Reviewing and enhancing financial reporting processes, controls and systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Undertaking additional finance-related duties to support the successful operation of the business.

About You

We are looking for a highly organised and motivated finance professional with strong technical expertise and excellent business partnering skills.

You will be:

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• An analytical thinker with strong financial modelling and reporting experience.
• Highly organised and methodical, with excellent attention to detail.
• Comfortable working independently, using your initiative and adapting to changing business priorities.
• Passionate about continuous improvement and finding smarter, more efficient ways of working.
• A confident communicator who can build effective relationships and influence stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.
• A collaborative team player who can motivate and support a small finance team in delivering high-quality results to tight deadlines.
• Commercially aware and able to translate financial data into meaningful business insight.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant experience in a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or similar senior finance role.
• Extensive experience of financial systems and accounting software.
• Strong management accounting, budgeting and forecasting experience.
• Experience of financial analysis, modelling and business reporting.
• A proven track record of identifying, developing and implementing process improvements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a practical approach to developing solutions.
• Experience preparing year-end accounts and managing external audit processes.
• Experience using Sage X3 or a similar ERP system.
• Experience working within a corporate group or multi-entity environment.
• Previous experience supporting operational or commercially focused businesses.

This role offers the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and contribute directly to the strategic and commercial success of Bournemouth Airport.

In return, we offer:

• A varied and influential role within a growing organisation.
• Significant exposure to senior stakeholders and business decision-making.
• The opportunity to lead continuous improvement initiatives and add real value to the business.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.