Financial Controller

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave + bank holidays.

Birthday day off.

£250 working from home budget.

Health Insurance, Life Assurance, and 

Income Protection.

Employee assistance program.

Buy and sell annual leave.

Flexible and trust-based culture.

Regular social events, remotely and in

in-person.

Job summary

Cezanne HR is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to lead the finance function end to end, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of management accounts and statutory reporting. You will contribute to budgeting, forecasting and strategic decisions with the CFO and build a high-performing finance team.

This hands-on role suits a senior finance leader who balances detailed close processes with scalable process improvement, reporting to the CFO and collaborating across departments.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in a controller/senior accountant role.
• Qualified accountancy (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong knowledge of UK accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience managing month-end/year-end close, statutory accounts and audit processes.
• Experience line-managing and developing a finance team.
• Comfortable partnering with a CFO and non-finance department heads on budgeting and reporting.
• Track record of improving financial processes, controls and systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day finance function, from transactional processing through to accounting, and be fully accountable for financial control, reporting and core operations.
• Own production of management accounts, KPIs and commentary for non-finance stakeholders, and lead variance analysis.
• Oversee close processes, reconciliations and journals, and lead statutory accounts preparation and the audit process.
• Document and maintain the core control framework and key risks.
• Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, tax and regulatory requirements, keeping abreast of changes and planning accordingly.
• Play a key role in budgeting, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.
• Work with the CFO on board packs and investor updates.
• Partner with heads of department on budgeting and cost control.
• Line-manage Finance Assistants and Accountants, setting clear expectations and supporting their development.
• Lead by example, manage performance and build a strong team bench.
• Design and improve processes for scalability and robustness, driving continuous improvement (system upgrades, automation, process redesign).
• Act as the main finance contact for internal teams, communicating clearly on expectations and deadlines.

Skills

Finance leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Stakeholder management

Month-end close

Audit coordination

People management

Education

ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent

Job description

Cezanne is the leading UK-headquartered provider of modern Cloud HR and Payroll software for UK and international businesses. Trusted by thousands of HR and Payroll professionals across a wide range of industries, our system helps organisations simplify people's processes and stay connected wherever their teams are.

With a history of strong year-on-year growth, we’re excited to continue expanding our reach. Our focus remains the same: delivering smart, forward-thinking HR and Payroll solutions backed by excellent support and a collaborative culture where our people can thrive.

About the Role

As Financial Controller, you’ll manage our finance function end to end – from transactional processing through accounting, control and statutory reporting. You’ll be fully accountable for the accuracy and timeliness of our management accounts and statutory reporting, and you’ll play a key role in budgeting, forecasting and strategic decisions alongside our CFO.

This role suits an experienced, hands-on finance leader who is equally comfortable in the detail of the close process and in developing a high-performing finance team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day finance function, from transactional processing through to accounting, and be fully accountable for financial control, reporting and core operations.
• Own production of management accounts, KPIs and commentary for non-finance stakeholders, and lead variance analysis.
• Oversee close processes, reconciliations and journals, and lead statutory accounts preparation and the audit process.
• Document and maintain the core control framework and key risks.
• Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, tax and regulatory requirements, keeping abreast of changes and planning accordingly.

Planning & strategic support

• Play a key role in budgeting, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.
• Work with the CFO on board packs and investor updates.
• Partner with heads of department on budgeting and cost control.
• Line-manage Finance Assistants and Accountants, setting clear expectations and supporting their development.
• Lead by example, manage performance and build a strong team bench.
• Design and improve processes for scalability and robustness, driving continuous improvement (system upgrades, automation, process redesign).
• Act as the main finance contact for internal teams, communicating clearly on expectations and deadlines.

What You’ll Bring

• 7–10 years in a controller/senior accountant role.
• Qualified accountancy. (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• Strong knowledge of UK accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience managing month-end/year-end close, statutory accounts and audit processes.
• Experience line-managing and developing a finance team.
• Comfortable partnering with a CFO and non-finance department heads on budgeting and reporting.
• Track record of improving financial processes, controls and systems.

Growth & Development

This role sits on our Controller progression route. As you take on greater influence over financial strategy and control, present to senior leadership, and develop future finance leaders, there’s a clear path to progress towards CFO or future group-level roles.

Perks of working with us

• 28 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• A day off for your birthday.
• £250 working from home budget.
• Health Insurance, Life Assurance, and Income Protection.
• Employee assistance program.
• Buy and sell annual leave.
• A culture built on flexibility and trust.
• Regular social events, remotely and in-person.

Cezanne HR is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.