Financial Controller

Isembard; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Isembard is hiring a Financial Controller to build the finance function from the ground up, shaping reporting, inventory accounting, audit readiness, and international consolidation. You will partner with the Finance Director to design and implement scalable processes across global entities.

Ideal candidates hold ACA/ACCA, strong IFRS knowledge, and Big Four audit experience, with hands-on ability to own and improve finance systems and controls in a manufacturing context.

Qualifications

• ACA/ACCA or equivalent qualification is required.
• Strong audit experience, ideally in a Big Four firm, with industry exposure.

Responsibilities

• Build and own month-end and year-end close processes.
• Prepare management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules.
• Set accounting policies and controls that scale with the business.
• Own statutory accounts and group consolidation across international entities.
• Lead audit preparations and manage auditor relationships, including Big Four transition.
• Develop inventory accounting for raw materials, WIP and finished goods.

Skills

Attention to detail

Builder mindset

Audit experience

Education

ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

About Isembard

Isembard is building a network of high-performance factories for critical industries. We combine advanced machine tools, robotics and our own software, MasonOS, to make precision components for aerospace, defence, energy and frontier technology companies, with factories across the UK, US, Germany and France. Our mission is to forge industrial acceleration.

The role

We are looking for a Financial Controller to help build Isembard's finance function from the ground up. This is a builder role, not a maintenance role.

Many of our financial processes, controls and systems are still being developed, and you will shape how finance works, from reporting and inventory accounting to audit readiness and international consolidation. You will build it, do it, own it and improve it, working directly with our Finance Director.

What you'll do

• Build and own the month-end and year-end close.

• Prepare management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules.

• Set accounting policies and controls that scale with the business.

• Own statutory accounts and group consolidation across international entities, including intercompany accounting.

• Lead audit preparation and auditor relationships, including our move to a Big Four audit.

• Build inventory accounting across raw materials, work in progress and finished goods, including valuation and production costing.

• Set processes for capital expenditure, fixed assets and depreciation of manufacturing equipment.

• Automate reporting and reconciliations, and work with external advisers on technical accounting, compliance and tax.

What we're looking for

• ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification.

• Strong audit experience, ideally in a Big Four firm, and ideally a year or two in industry since.

• A strong technical grasp of IFRS and UK accounting standards.

• Experience preparing financial statements, running month-end and working with external auditors.

• Excellent Excel skills and attention to detail.

• A builder's mindset and a willingness to get into the detail, however senior the task.

Nice to have

• Manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, automotive or another inventory-intensive industry.

• Inventory accounting, WIP or standard costing.

• International group consolidation.

• Professional French or German.

Why Isembard

• Shape the finance function rather than inherit one.

• Real ownership and unusual breadth: manufacturing, international expansion, systems and technical accounting.

• Your scope grows as the business does.

Location: On-site at our Southwark factory in London.