Financial Controller

Handpicked Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Handpicked Recruitment invites an experienced Financial Controller to oversee accounting and reporting for a group of SME businesses with annual turnovers around £5m‑£10m each. The role involves leading the finance function, ensuring robust controls and accurate reporting while partnering with directors on performance improvements.

Candidate will bring ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualifications, hands‑on multi‑entity experience, and strong budgeting, forecasting and systems awareness.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA with substantial post‑qualification experience.
• Proven hands‑on Financial Controller experience across multiple SMEs.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and financial controls.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting and financial reporting across approximately 10 SME businesses.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Manage month-end and year-end processes, including journals, accruals and intercompany accounting.
• Oversee budgeting, cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
• Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, VAT, corporation tax and statutory reporting requirements.
• Coordinate year-end accounts preparation and manage relationships with external accountants and auditors.
• Develop and maintain strong financial controls, accounting policies and reporting procedures.
• Monitor business performance, identify cost‑saving opportunities and provide commercial insight to senior management.
• Manage and support finance team members, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of accounting requirements.
• Improve financial systems, processes and reporting efficiency.

Skills

Management accounting

Financial reporting

Variance analysis

Commercial insight

Multi-entity experience

Budgeting

Cash flow forecasting

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Tools

Excel

Xero

Sage

QuickBooks

Job description

Our client is an established and growing business group seeking an experienced, hands‑on Financial Controller to oversee the accounting and financial reporting requirements of approximately 10 SME businesses, each with an annual turnover of circa £5m-£10m.

This is a senior role offering broad responsibility across multiple businesses, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong financial controls and efficient accounting operations, while working closely with directors to support commercial performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting and financial reporting across approximately 10 SME businesses.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Manage month-end and year-end processes, including journals, accruals, prepayments and intercompany accounting.
• Oversee budgeting, cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
• Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, VAT, corporation tax and statutory reporting requirements.
• Coordinate year-end accounts preparation and manage relationships with external accountants and auditors.
• Develop and maintain strong financial controls, accounting policies and reporting procedures.
• Monitor business performance, identify cost‑saving opportunities and provide commercial insight to senior management.
• Manage and support finance team members, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of accounting requirements.
• Improve financial systems, processes and reporting efficiency.

Candidate Requirements

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with substantial post‑qualification experience.
• Proven experience as a Financial Controller, Head of Finance or in a similar hands‑on finance role.
• Strong management accounting, financial reporting and technical accounting experience.
• Experience working across multiple businesses, ideally within an SME or multi‑entity environment.
• Strong budgeting, cash flow forecasting, financial controls and statutory compliance experience.
• Commercially minded, with experience working directly with directors or business owners.
• Proficient in Excel and accounting systems such as Xero, Sage, QuickBooks or similar.
• Comfortable taking ownership of both day‑to‑day accounting and broader financial management responsibilities.
• Previous experience within accountancy practice, outsourced finance or multi‑company groups would be advantageous.