Financial Controller

ALF Recruit Limited; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working in Manchester

Annual discretionary bonus

Parking

25 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Private healthcare

Job summary

ALF Recruit Limited supports a well-established Manchester-based service-sector business to appoint a Financial Controller who will own the financial control environment and partner with leadership. You’ll run month-end and statutory reporting, manage the external audit, and lead budgeting and reforecasts while driving commercial insight.

Hybrid working, with two days in the Manchester office, a discretionary bonus, private healthcare and 25 days of holiday support a senior, hands-on role that

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) is required.
• Proven experience as Financial Controller or senior Finance Manager, ideally in a service-led or multi-site business.
• Experience in Financial Services would be advantageous.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and a track record delivering statutory accounts and audits.
• Experience leading and developing a finance team.
• Commercial mindset with the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel and ERP systems experience.
• Hands-on, organised approach with drive to improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Leading month-end and year-end close and producing accurate, timely management accounts
• Owning the statutory accounts and managing the external audit from start to finish
• Running the annual budget and reforecasts, with variance analysis that drives decisions
• Managing cash flow, working capital and banking relationships
• Making sure financial controls, processes and policies are robust and scalable
• Overseeing VAT, corporation tax and other compliance, working with external advisors
• Leading, developing and motivating the finance team
• Partnering with operational leaders to give clear, commercial insight on performance and profitability
• Driving process improvement and getting the most out of finance systems

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical mindset

Commercial mindset

Organised approach

Education

ACA, ACCA or CIMA

Tools

Advanced Excel

ERP systems

Job description

We’re working with a well-established, growing service-sector business headquartered in Manchester. The business has grown steadily, and its finance function now needs a Financial Controller to bring structure, control and clear commercial insight.

You’ll own the whole financial control environment in a hands‑on role. You’ll run month-end and statutory reporting, and you’ll also have a real voice in how the business plans and performs. It suits someone who’s as comfortable rolling their sleeves up as they are presenting to the leadership team.

What's on offer:

• A salary of up to £90,000, depending on experience
• Hybrid working, with 2 days a week in the Manchester office and the rest from home
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Parking including for the office days
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Private healthcare
• A modern city-centre office, a collaborative and supportive culture, and a business that invests in its people

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading month-end and year-end close and producing accurate, timely management accounts
• Owning the statutory accounts and managing the external audit from start to finish
• Running the annual budget and reforecasts, with variance analysis that drives decisions
• Managing cash flow, working capital and banking relationships
• Making sure financial controls, processes and policies are robust and scalable
• Overseeing VAT, corporation tax and other compliance, working with external advisors
• Leading, developing and motivating the finance team
• Partnering with operational leaders to give clear, commercial insight on performance and profitability
• Driving process improvement and getting the most out of finance systems

What we are looking for?

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Proven experience as a Financial Controller or senior Finance Manager, ideally in a service-led or multi-site business
• Previous experience in Financial Services would be advantageous
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and a track record of delivering statutory accounts and audits
• Experience leading and developing a finance team
• A commercial mindset, with the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems
• A hands‑on, organised approach, with the drive to improve how things are done