Financial Controller

Four Recruitment; Stockport; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid working

Job summary

Four Recruitment is seeking a Financial Controller to lead the month-end close, ensure robust financial controls and accurate reporting for a private equity-backed technology business.

The role reports to the Finance Director, drives governance, capital discipline and a scalable finance function across acquisitions, with a strong emphasis on data, automation and AI-enabled reporting. Hybrid working in Stockport area is available.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA and relevant post-qualification experience.
• Experience leading finance teams and managing month-end/year-end close.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and audit experience.
• Experience with private equity-backed organisations and acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly management accounts process and ensure timely completion.
• Produce accurate monthly financial results, board reporting packs and supporting analysis.
• Own the month-end and year-end close processes.
• Manage Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Credit Control functions.
• Drive reporting consistency and automation across finance processes.
• Coordinate statutory accounts preparation and regulatory filings.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication to non-finance

Leadership

AI in Finance interest

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Power BI

Job description

The Financial Controller is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of the Company's financial reporting and control environment.

Reporting to the Finance Director, the role will lead the day-to-day financial operations of the business, ensuring robust financial controls, efficient finance processes and high-quality management information. The Financial Controller will support the continued growth of the Group through strong governance, financial discipline and operational excellence.

The role will play a key part in maintaining a scalable finance function capable of supporting an acquisitive, private equity-backed technology business.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly management accounts process and ensure timely completion.
• Produce accurate monthly financial results, board reporting packs and supporting analysis.
• Ensure reporting deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Deliver robust balance sheet reconciliations and review processes.
• Analyse monthly variances against budget, forecast and prior year performance.
• Support preparation of lender, investor and board reporting requirements.
• Maintain a strong financial control framework across the business.
• Support compliance with FRS 102 and other applicable accounting standards.
• Own the month-end and year-end close processes.
• Ensure financial policies and procedures remain fit for purpose and are adhered to.
• Manage the annual external audit process.
• Coordinate statutory accounts preparation.
• Ensure compliance with Companies House and regulatory filing requirements.

Tax & Treasury

• Oversee VAT, Corporation Tax and employment tax compliance.
• Liaise with external tax advisers.
• Manage cash flow forecasting and treasury operations.
• Proactively manage working capital, identifying and driving actions to optimise cash conversion, debtor days and creditor terms.
• Ensure effective management of debtor and creditor balances.
• Support covenant reporting and banking requirements.

Management Accounting

• Drive consistency across reporting processes.
• Improve reporting efficiency through automation and standardisation.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting cycles.
• Provide detailed financial analysis to support business decision-making.

Transactional Finance Leadership

• Lead Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Credit Control functions.
• Ensure efficient billing and cash collection processes.
• Take ownership of working capital performance, setting targets and leading actions across billing, collections and payables.
• Monitor transaction processing quality and controls.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and financial governance.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Support finance transformation initiatives.
• Maximise use of Microsoft Business Central, Microsoft Power BI, reporting tools and automation technologies.
• Champion the exploration and adoption of AI within Finance, identifying opportunities and leading initiatives that improve efficiency, insight and control.
• Share Finance's AI learnings and use cases with the wider business and support AI-led initiatives for our customers.
• Improve data quality and reporting accuracy.
• Lead the finance workstream of acquisition integrations, including onboarding of acquired entities' systems, processes, controls, reporting and teams.
• Lead, develop and mentor members of the finance team.
• Establish clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Build a culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and capability development.
• Promote collaborative working across the wider business.

Experience Required:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
• Significant experience within a Financial Controller, Senior Finance Manager or equivalent role.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge.
• Experience managing month-end and year-end reporting processes.
• Experience leading finance teams.
• Exposure to private equity-backed organisations.
• Experience of audit management
• Proven experience leading the finance workstream of acquisition integrations.
• Strong systems and process improvement experience.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
• A genuine passion for exploring AI in Finance, with the drive to lead AI initiatives within Finance and for our customers.
• Experience within a technology, software, managed services or recurring revenue business.
• Experience of finance integrations following acquisitions.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Power BI.
• Experience of corporate tax compliance.

This company offers an outstanding benefits package with very flexible/hybrid working.