Financial Controller

SRM Recruitment; Ealing; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

SRM Recruitment is seeking a Financial Controller to lead the finance function within a fast-growing UK construction business. The role delivers accurate financial reporting, robust controls, and strong support to the Finance Director and Commercial teams.

The successful candidate will manage month-end closes, cash flow, and WIP/cost accounting, ensuring compliance and timely statutory reporting. A proactive attitude and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACA or ACCA with 3+ years post-qualified experience.
• Experience as Financial Controller or Finance Manager.
• Construction/contracting/project-based industry experience.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven cash flow and working capital management.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Self-starter capable of meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end close and monthly management accounts.
• Oversee cash flow and treasury management.
• Maintain GL integrity and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare and review financial statements and audit packs.
• Produce MI and KPI analyses.
• Drive COINS ERP finance processes and reporting improvements.
• Support budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Oversee accounts payable and supplier payments.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Leadership

Analytical

Communication

Cash flow management

Education

ACA or ACCA

Tools

COINS ERP

Job description

The Financial Controller is responsible for managing the company's finance function, maintaining strong financial controls, delivering accurate and timely financial reporting, and providing support to the Finance Director and Commercial teams. The role will oversee all accounting activities, cash flow management, taxation compliance, project accounting and financial governance across the business.

Operating within a fast-growing, privately-owned construction environment, the Financial Controller will ensure robust financial processes, effective working capital management and continuous improvement of finance systems and reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the month-end close process and preparation of monthly management accounts.
• Send Cost & Revenue report to the Commercial teams.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure financial records are accurate and complete.
• Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Manage accruals, prepayments, fixed asset & depreciation and HP accounting entries.
• Oversee work-in-progress (WIP) calculations and associated accounting entries.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and company financial policies.
• Support the preparation of annual statutory accounts and external audit requirements. Manage the production of the year-end audit packs before they are submitted to the external auditors. Actively resolve any audit queries.
• Produce accurate and insightful MI and KPI analysis.
• Prepare the monthly Overhead summary and investigate any variances.

Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Manage daily cash balances and monitor business liquidity.
• Produce short-term and medium-term cash flow forecasts.
• Monitor banking activities and maintain accurate bank reconciliations daily.
• Provide weekly and monthly cash flow reporting and treasury updates to directors.
• Review and authorise supplier, subcontractor and cashbook payments.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Support the annual budgeting process, assisting with sensitivity analysis.
• Monitor actual performance against budget and investigate any variances.
• Manage and support Accounts Payable team members.
• Review and challenge new supplier onboarding documentation.
• Ensure effective financial controls are maintained across all accounting processes.
• Provide training and support to the business where required.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Act as a key business lead for the COINS ERP financial system.
• Support implementation and enhancement of finance processes and reporting tools (AI), identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, automation and reporting accuracy.

Credit Control & Working Capital

• Oversee credit control activities and debtor management.
• Monitor aged debt and support timely collection of outstanding balances.
• Ensure contract invoicing is accurate and issued promptly. Liaise with the QS's and clients for missing payment certs and self-billing invoices.
• Check the accumulated gross/retention/discount matches with COINS and process the certs/self-billing invoices in the contract sales ledger.
• Raise contract sales invoices and allocate customer receipts.

Experience & Qualifications:

• ACA or ACCA qualified, ideally with 3+ years post qualified experience. Audit trained preferential.
• Previous Financial Controller, Finance Manager or Senior Management Accountant experience. Statutory and management reporting background essential.
• Strong background within construction, contracting, engineering or project-based environments. Experience of CIS, VAT, WIP accounting and contract revenue recognition.
• Excellent numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience managing cash flow and working capital.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong communicator, both verbally and in the written form, and leadership skills with proven experience of managing a team.
• A self-starter who can manage and prioritise deadlines as well as manage expectations upwards.
• Ability to challenge the 'status quo'.
• Ability to challenge and stand firm with Senior Management.