Financial Controller

Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited; Lenham; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited in Lenham, Kent, seeks a Financial Controller to lead the finance function. You will own month-end, controls, audit and tax compliance, while guiding the transactional finance team and shaping finance processes to support commercial decisions.

The role offers real autonomy, a trusted environment, and opportunities to influence how finance operates within the business.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA or CIMA).
• Experience as Financial Controller or equivalent (Head of Finance/Finance Manager).
• Experience managing a finance team and developing staff.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge with robust controls.
• Experience managing external audits.
• Good knowledge of UK VAT and tax compliance.
• Excellent Excel skills and ERP systems experience.
• Strong organisational skills with ability to multitask and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the month-end close, ensuring timely and accurate monthly management accounts and reporting packs.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations and ensure control accounts are maintained.
• Oversee VAT, PAYE, and Corporation Tax payments.
• Analyse financial performance and highlight variances and risks to the Finance Director.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment and continuous reporting improvements.
• Coordinate the annual external audit.
• Manage and mentor the transactional finance team (AP/AR).
• Identify and drive improvements to finance processes.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Financial Controller experience

Team leadership

Technical accounting

External audits

VAT knowledge

Excel

ERP systems

Education

Chartered Accountant qualification

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Financial Controller Lenham Paying Circa £80k

Location: Lenham

Contract: Full time, permanent

Salary: Circa £80k

Reporting to: Finance Director

The opportunity

We are exclusively partnered with an established Kent business to recruit a Financial Controller, reporting directly to the Finance Director.

We have worked with the Finance Director for a number of years, and they are a big part of why this role is worth a look. They want to give the Financial Controller real freedom and autonomy: their approach is to set direction, back your judgement and remove obstacles, not to check every decision or manage you closely. If you have been in roles where you were trusted with the title but not the responsibility, this is the opposite.

You will take day-to-day leadership of the finance function, owning month-end, controls, audit and tax compliance, and leading the transactional finance team. There is also genuine scope to shape how finance works, improving processes and reporting so the business gets reliable information to support its commercial decisions.

What you'll be doing

• Lead the month-end close, ensuring timely and accurate monthly management accounts and reporting packs
• Review balance sheet reconciliations and make sure all control accounts are properly maintained
• Oversee and review VAT and PAYE calculations, ensuring VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax are paid accurately and on time
• Analyse financial performance, highlighting key variances and risks to the Finance Director
• Maintain a robust financial control environment and continually improve reporting processes
• Coordinate the annual external audit
• Manage, develop and mentor the transactional finance team, including accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Identify and lead improvements to finance processes

About you

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Experience as a Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Finance Manager or Senior Management Accountant
• Experience managing and developing a finance team
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and a solid understanding of financial controls
• Experience managing external audits
• Good knowledge of UK tax compliance, particularly VAT
• Excellent Excel skills and experience using ERP systems
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines

You’ll get the most from this role if you work best when trusted to get on with it, take ownership without needing close direction, and want the freedom to improve how things are done.