Financial Controller

Investigo; Watford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Investigo seeks a qualified accountant to lead the month-end close, manage intercompany activity and ensure reconciliations are complete and accurate in a busy financial control environment in Watford.

You will support year-end preparations, coordinate with auditors, prepare management accounts with variance analysis, mentor junior finance staff and drive improvements in processes, controls and reporting using ERP systems and advanced Excel.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA and strong financial control experience.
• Proven ability to lead month-end close and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Experience supporting external audits and statutory reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the month-end close including journals, accruals and reconciliations.
• Maintain integrity of the general ledger and balance sheet.
• Coordinate intercompany accounting and resolve variances.
• Prepare for external audits and respond to auditor requests.
• Produce monthly management accounts with variance analysis.
• Support budgeting and forecasting with insights and trends.
• Develop and mentor junior finance staff.
• Stay hands-on with day-to-day accounting activities.
• Oversee payables, receivables, cash allocation and credit control.
• Strengthen financial controls and improve reporting tools.

Skills

Reconciliation

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Key Priorities

• Conduct a thorough review of balance sheet accounts, investigating and resolving aged, unreconciled, or unsupported items.
• Ensure all intercompany and internal balances are accurately reconciled, resolving discrepancies on a timely basis.
• Support year-end preparation activities, ensuring reconciliations, supporting schedules and documentation are complete and audit-ready.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the month-end close process, including journals, accruals, prepayments, fixed assets, foreign currency accounting and account reconciliations.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger, ensuring all balance sheet accounts are accurately reconciled, reviewed and supported.
• Manage intercompany accounting processes, investigating variances and driving timely resolution of outstanding items.
• Coordinate external audit requirements, acting as a key contact for auditors and ensuring information requests are delivered efficiently and accurately.
• Prepare financial information and supporting documentation required for statutory and year-end reporting obligations.
• Produce monthly management accounts, including variance analysis, commentary and insights into business performance.
• Contribute to budgeting and forecasting processes, providing analysis, challenge and commentary around key assumptions and trends.
• Manage, support and develop junior finance team members, ensuring workloads, priorities and performance standards are effectively maintained.
• Remain hands-on in day-to-day accounting activities, including reconciliations, journals, issue resolution and financial analysis.
• Oversee transactional finance activities including payables, receivables, cash allocation, account reconciliations and credit control processes.
• Monitor and strengthen financial controls, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy and compliance.
• Utilise financial systems and reporting tools to improve data quality, reporting capability and process effectiveness.
• Partner with stakeholders across the organisation, providing financial support, analysis and guidance to aid decision-making.
• Support cash flow reporting, treasury-related activities and wider finance projects as required.

Candidate Profile

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong experience within financial control, management accounting or a similar hands-on finance role.
• Demonstrable experience managing month-end reporting cycles and maintaining strong balance sheet control.
• Experience supporting external audits, preparing supporting schedules and responding to auditor requests.
• Strong reconciliation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate and resolve complex accounting issues.
• Previous experience leading, coaching and reviewing the work of finance team members.
• Strong systems aptitude, with experience using ERP and reporting systems to enhance financial processes and controls.
• Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyse and interpret large volumes of financial data.
• Organised, detail-oriented and delivery focused, with the ability to operate effectively at both strategic and transactional levels.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility across finance and non-finance teams.