Financial Controller

EWI Recruitment; City Of London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Financial Controller position at EWI Recruitment in London oversees financial operations, provides robust controls, and delivers insightful reporting to senior stakeholders. You will lead month-end and year-end closes, and coordinate external audits.

You will partner with department heads to improve financial understanding, manage budgets and forecasts, and drive process improvements in a fast-paced, changing environment. Strong accounting qualifications and advanced Excel are essential.

Qualifications

• Recognised professional accounting qualification or significant relevant experience.
• Strong background in financial control, reporting, and compliance.
• Experience with modern accounting systems and advanced spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Manage month-end and year-end close processes and prepare management accounts, budgets, forecasts, and cash-flow reports.
• Oversee general ledger activities, reconciliations, and statutory reporting; ensure compliance with accounting standards and internal policies.
• Coordinate external audits; monitor financial performance against targets; lead or mentor the finance team.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACCA/ CIMA/ ICAS)

Tools

Accounting software

Excel advanced

Financial reporting tools

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Financial Controller to oversee the organisation's financial operations and support sound commercial decision-making. This role will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring robust controls, and delivering timely, insightful reporting to senior stakeholders. The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting expertise with a practical, business-focused approach and the ability to work effectively across multiple teams.

Key responsibilities will include managing the month-end and year-end close processes; preparing management accounts, budgets, forecasts, and cash-flow reports; overseeing general ledger activities, reconciliations, and statutory reporting; and ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards, tax requirements, and internal policies. You will establish and improve financial controls, identify and manage risk, and provide analysis and recommendations to support operational and strategic decisions. The role will also involve coordinating external audits, monitoring financial performance against agreed targets, and leading or mentoring members of the finance team. You will work closely with department heads to improve financial understanding, strengthen processes, and promote accountability.

Applicants should hold a recognised professional accounting qualification or be qualified by significant relevant experience, with a strong background in financial control, reporting, and compliance. Experience using modern accounting systems and advanced spreadsheet tools is essential, as is the ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly to non-finance colleagues. You will be highly organised, analytical, and commercially aware, with excellent attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and operate with discretion is required. Experience of process improvement, team leadership, and working in a changing environment would be advantageous.