Financial Controller

Howett Thorpe; Farnborough; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Remote work 6 weeks

Beer on site

Dog at work

Holiday buy-up

Employee discounts

Job summary

Howett Thorpe is seeking an experienced Financial Controller in Farnborough to lead financial control, balance sheet integrity, treasury and governance across a multi-entity environment. The role also includes developing a small finance team and driving improvements in processes and systems.

You will work closely with senior leadership, challenge existing controls and deliver timely, accurate financial information.

Qualifications

• The role requires ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent accounting qualification.
• Experience in Financial Controller or similar operational finance role.
• Experience across multi-entity reporting and balance sheet ownership.
• Experience with consolidation and intercompany accounting.
• Exposure to treasury, cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
• Experience with multi-currency accounting and foreign exchange.
• Experience with external auditors and regulatory reporting.
• Interest in process improvement and automation.
• Hands-on and proactive approach with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of balance sheet reconciliations and ensure accuracy of all balance sheet accounts.
• Manage and review month-end reporting across multiple entities.
• Oversee consolidation and intercompany accounting.
• Act as final reviewer across key month-end areas including revenue, gross margin and accruals.
• Ensure reporting deadlines are met with appropriate sign-off.
• Manage and develop a small finance team.
• Provide coaching and constructive challenge to the wider team.
• Support treasury and cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
• Oversee bank and control account reconciliations.
• Support external auditors and regulatory reporting.

Skills

Balance sheet ownership

Month-end close

Consolidation

Intercompany accounting

Treasury & cash flow

Foreign exchange

Multi-currency accounting

People management

Stakeholder management

Automation mindset

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Financial Controller to join a well-established and growing organisation based in Farnborough.

This is a broad, hands‑on position with responsibility for financial control, balance sheet integrity, treasury, governance and month‑end across a complex, multi‑entity environment. The role will also involve managing and developing a small finance team.

The position would suit a qualified accountant who enjoys operating close to the detail, while also having the confidence to challenge existing processes, strengthen controls and drive improvements across the finance function. You may already have formal people management responsibility, or alternatively be someone who has taken an active role in mentoring, supporting and reviewing the work of others and is now ready to step into a more formal leadership position.

Financial Controller – Benefits

• 25 days holidays, increasing with tenure plus your Birthday off
• Ability to purchase up to an additional 2 weeks of holiday
• Remote work location for up to a maximum of 6 weeks per year
• Free beer fridges on site
• Bring your dog to work days
• 50% off branded products

Financial Controller – About the Role

The Financial Controller will play a key role in maintaining strong financial control across the business while supporting the continued development of finance processes, systems and reporting.

This is a varied position offering responsibility across month‑end, multi‑entity reporting, balance sheet control, treasury, FX, cash flow, audit and financial governance. You will also manage a small finance team, providing support, direction and oversight while helping to develop capability within the function.

Strong stakeholder management will be an important part of the role. You will work closely with senior leadership and colleagues across the wider business, providing clear financial insight, challenging constructively where required and ensuring key financial information is understood and acted upon. The role will therefore suit someone who can combine strong technical finance skills with the confidence and communication style to build effective relationships across the organisation.

A key focus of the role will be continuous improvement. The successful individual will be encouraged to review how finance operates today, identify opportunities to streamline processes and controls, and help drive greater efficiency through automation and better use of systems.

The role also offers excellent development potential, with the opportunity to broaden your technical, leadership and commercial experience while gaining greater exposure across the organisation. It would particularly suit someone ambitious who is looking to take the next step in their career and develop towards a broader senior finance leadership role.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of balance sheet reconciliations and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all balance sheet accounts
• Managing and reviewing month‑end reporting across multiple entities
• Overseeing consolidation and intercompany accounting
• Acting as the final reviewer across key month‑end areas including revenue, gross margin, prepayments and accruals
• Ensuring reporting deadlines are achieved and appropriate financial sign‑off is in place
• Managing and developing a small finance team
• Providing oversight, coaching and constructive challenge to work completed by the wider finance team
• Managing short and medium‑term cash flow forecasting
• Supporting working capital management and optimisation
• Managing treasury activity, including cash movements, banking and multi‑currency requirements
• Monitoring, forecasting and reporting on foreign exchange exposure
• Ensuring the accurate accounting and settlement of FX transactions
• Overseeing key bank and control account reconciliations
• Supporting UK and overseas tax and regulatory reporting requirements
• Acting as a key contact for external auditors and professional advisors
• Supporting the preparation of statutory accounts
• Working with external advisors in relation to corporation tax and year‑end provisions
• Owning and developing the internal financial control framework
• Reviewing existing finance processes and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy and scalability
• Driving process improvement and supporting greater automation across the finance function
• Helping to improve the use of finance systems, reporting tools and data
• Ensuring financial processes are appropriately documented and controlled
• Identifying and escalating financial and control risks
• Supporting a strong culture of financial discipline, development and continuous improvement

The successful Financial Controller will have:

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification, or equivalent experience
• Previous experience within a Financial Controller, Finance Manager, Assistant Financial Controller or similar operational finance role
• Strong experience of working across and reporting on multiple entities
• Strong experience of balance sheet ownership, reconciliations and month‑end close
• Experience of consolidation and intercompany accounting
• Good exposure to treasury, cash flow forecasting and working capital management
• Strong experience of multi‑currency accounting and foreign exchange
• Previous people management experience would be advantageous, although applications will also be considered from individuals who have mentored, coached or supervised others and are ready to take the next step into formal team management
• Experience working with external auditors and professional advisors
• Exposure to an international or EMEA finance structure would be beneficial
• Experience within a regulated or complex commercial environment would be advantageous
• A strong process improvement mindset with examples of improving finance processes, controls or reporting
• An interest in automation and using systems and technology to make finance more efficient
• A hands‑on and proactive approach
• The ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders
• A solutions‑focused and continuous improvement mindset