Financial Controller

FoundU; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

FoundU in Central London is seeking its first Financial Controller for a part-time role (two days per week, flexible hours) with hybrid work. You will own AR/AP, drive cash flow forecasting, and work closely with the founder and fractional CFO to build a robust finance function.

The role requires ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification or equivalent, hands-on Xero experience (Dext or Hubdoc a plus), and a track record of owning AR/AP in a growing business.

Qualifications

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification is required or equivalent
• Hands-on Xero experience with add-ons like Dext or Hubdoc
• Track record of owning AR and AP in a growing business
• Experience building a 13 week cash flow forecast
• Rebate or volume incentive accounting experience is a plus
• Ad tech, media or agency billing experience is a bonus, not essential
• Confident leader with reliability and empathy to work with different personalities

Responsibilities

• Own order to cash, automate invoicing with sales, manage credit control and collections
• Take over accounts payable and payment runs with proper approvals and controls
• Manage rebate arrangements with agencies, customers, and partners with accruals and reconciliations
• Build and run a rolling 13 week cash flow forecast
• Support the fractional CFO with budgets, reforecasts and board/investor reporting
• Maximise use of Xero and integrate appropriate add-ons

Skills

AR & AP ownership

Cash flow forecasting

Financial control

Ad tech / media billing

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Tools

Xero

Dext

Hubdoc

Job description

Part Time Financial Controller | Ad Tech | Central London, hybrid and flexible hours | £75,000 to £85,000 FTE, pro rata

A first finance hire, a founder who is ready to hand over the keys, and hours built around the school run.

I’ve just come off a call with the founder of one of the most interesting businesses I’ve worked with this year, and they’re looking for their first Financial Controller.

The business

A profitable, fast growing ad tech company in video advertising. They’ve built something that didn’t exist before, with no blueprint to follow, and it works. They’ve recently brought in investment and have serious growth plans for the next few years.

It’s a small, close team based just off Oxford Street, moving into a new Soho office next year. Good people, real pace, and a culture where everyone is expected to speak up. They give the whole team mental health days, and they mean it.

The role

This is the first dedicated finance hire. You’ll report to the founder and work alongside an experienced fractional CFO. The founder is the first to admit finance isn’t his background, so this is your chance to build the function properly and make it yours.

You’ll:

• Own order to cash, working with sales to automate invoicing, and run credit control and collections
• Take over accounts payable and payment runs from the leadership team, with proper approvals and controls
• Get on top of rebate arrangements with agencies, customers and partners, including accruals and reconciliations
• Build and run a rolling 13 week cash flow forecast
• Support the fractional CFO with budgets, reforecasts and the numbers behind board and investor reporting
• Get the most out of Xero and bring in the right add ons and integrations

It’s a business partner role, not a numbers factory. Whenever you look at something and think “there must be a better way”, they want to hear it.

The hours

The equivalent of two days a week, and how you make that up is flexible. Three shorter days from 9.30 to 2 works perfectly well. For the first couple of months they’d like you in the office regularly, so you can sit with the founder and see how everything works. After that it’s hybrid and largely your call.

Both founders started this business with toddlers, so they understand. Whether it’s the school run, caring responsibilities or simply wanting a better balance, the hours fit around your life. There’s room for the role to grow if you want it to, and no pressure if you don’t.

You’ll bring

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification, or strong experience in place of it
• Hands on Xero experience, ideally with tools like Dext or Hubdoc
• A track record of owning AR and AP in a growing business
• Experience building a 13 week cash flow forecast
• Rebate or volume incentive accounting experience is a real plus
• Ad tech, media or agency billing experience is a bonus, not essential
• Confidence to take the lead, the empathy to work with very different personalities, and reliability people can count on.

The package

£75,000 to £85,000 full time equivalent, paid pro rata, depending on qualification and experience.

Start date: as soon as possible, with January also fine.

Process: a first conversation with the fractional CFO, then a final meeting in person.