Financial Controller

AUSTIN MATLEY; Poole; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Matley Ltd in Poole is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to take ownership of financial control, reporting and day-to-day financial management within one key business division. This hands-on, commercially focused role offers close collaboration with senior operational and commercial leaders to deliver financial insight and challenge that drives business performance.

Reporting to the Group CFO, you will lead the divisional finance function, deliver robust controls, manage

Qualifications

• Strong technical accounting knowledge with business partnering skills.
• Experience in financial control and management reporting.
• Proven track record leading month-end, budgeting and forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end process and delivery of accurate, timely management accounts.
• Own financial controls, balance sheet integrity and accounting processes.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities.
• Provide commercial insight and constructive challenge to senior business leaders.
• Monitor profitability, margins, costs and working capital.
• Oversee cash-flow forecasting and credit-control performance.
• Drive improvements across finance systems, processes and reporting.
• Support ERP developments and wider finance transformation initiatives.
• Lead, develop and motivate the finance team.
• Work with Group Finance to ensure governance and compliance.

Skills

Financial control

Management accounting

Month-end reporting

Budgeting & forecasting

Team leadership

Stakeholder communication

Advanced Excel

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Equivalent senior financial-control experience

Job description

Location: Office-based | Full-time, Monday–Friday

We are supporting a well-established business in the search for an experienced Financial Controller to take ownership of financial control, reporting and day-to-day financial management within one of its key business divisions.

This is a hands‑on, commercially focused role, offering the opportunity to work closely with senior operational and commercial leaders, providing financial insight, constructive challenge and support to drive business performance.

The role

Reporting to the Group CFO, you will lead the divisional finance function, ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting and effective financial management.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the month-end process and delivery of accurate, timely management accounts.
• Taking ownership of financial controls, balance sheet integrity and accounting processes.
• Leading budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities.
• Providing commercial insight and constructive challenge to senior business leaders.
• Monitoring profitability, margins, costs and working capital.
• Overseeing cash-flow forecasting and credit‑control performance.
• Driving improvements across finance systems, processes and reporting.
• Supporting ERP developments and wider finance transformation initiatives.
• Leading, developing and motivating the finance team.
• Working closely with Group Finance to ensure appropriate governance and compliance.

About you

We are looking for a credible and commercially aware finance professional who combines strong technical accounting knowledge with the ability to influence and support business decisions.

You will ideally bring:

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification, or equivalent senior financial‑control experience.
• Strong experience in financial control and management accounting.
• A proven track record of leading month-end reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Experience managing and developing a finance team.
• Excellent analytical skills and strong financial systems/Excel capability.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and communicate financial information to non‑finance stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to improving processes, controls and business performance.

Experience within distribution, wholesale, FMCG or a B2B environment would be advantageous, as would exposure to ERP implementation or finance transformation.

Why consider this opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity to take a senior finance position within a business where you can genuinely influence performance, strengthen financial processes and help shape the ongoing development of the finance function.

You'll have the opportunity to work closely with senior leadership, develop your team and play a key role in supporting commercial and operational decision‑making.