Financial Controller

Michael Page; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15% performance bonus

Car allowance £6,000

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Michael Page partners with a high-growth business in Central Bristol to recruit a Commercial Financial Controller who will lead the finance function and drive robust reporting, controls and insights as the organisation scales.

Reporting to the CFO, you will manage the finance team, guide month-end close, statutory and management reporting, and support forecasting, budgeting and commercial decision-making with a clear pathway to a broader Head of Finance role. Flexible working is offered.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with leadership experience in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience overseeing statutory and management reporting.
• Experience managing audits and external auditors.
• Proactive, commercially minded with strong stakeholder management.
• Experience partnering with non-finance teams and translating financial information into actionable insights.
• Forecasting, budgeting and financial analysis experience.
• Experience in a private equity-backed, acquisitive or rapidly growing business is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through change or acquisition integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the finance team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Own month-end and quarter-end close processes with accuracy and timeliness.
• Oversee statutory accounts, management accounts and financial reporting packs.
• Manage the annual audit process and relationships with external auditors.
• Maintain robust financial controls, governance and compliance.
• Support cash flow management and balance sheet integrity.
• Partner with the Commercial Finance Manager on forecasting, budgeting and planning.
• Deliver meaningful analysis and insights to support strategic decisions.
• Collaborate with operational and commercial stakeholders to drive performance.
• Support acquisition integration and finance transformation initiatives as the business grows.

Skills

Leadership

Financial reporting

Audits

Stakeholder management

Forecasting & budgeting

Commercial finance

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Job description

This is a rare opportunity to join a successful and ambitious business at a key stage of its growth journey. You'll work closely with an experienced CFO, gain exposure to strategic decision-making and M&A activity, and have the opportunity to broaden your remit into a well-rounded Head of Finance role as the business continues to expand.

Client Details

We are partnering with a high-growth business based in Central Bristol that has experienced significant expansion through a successful acquisition strategy. With further growth plans firmly on the agenda, the business is seeking a commercially minded Financial Controller to join the leadership team and play a key role in shaping the finance function during an exciting phase of development.

Description

Reporting directly to the CFO, you will lead a capable finance team while ensuring the delivery of high-quality financial reporting, robust controls and insightful management information. This role offers significant exposure to the wider business and presents a clear pathway towards developing into a broader Head of Finance position as the organisation continues to scale.

As Financial Controller, your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, developing and mentoring the finance team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Ownership of the month-end and quarter-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery.
• Overseeing the preparation and review of statutory accounts, management accounts and financial reporting packs.
• Managing the annual audit process and maintaining strong relationships with external auditors and advisors.
• Ensuring robust financial controls, compliance and governance frameworks are in place and continually improved.
• Supporting cash flow management and balance sheet integrity.
• Partnering closely with the Commercial Finance Manager to support forecasting, budgeting and financial planning activities.
• Delivering meaningful analysis and business insights to support strategic decision-making.
• Working collaboratively with operational and commercial stakeholders across the business to drive performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Supporting acquisition integration activities and contributing to finance transformation initiatives as the business continues to grow.

Profile

We are looking for a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with proven leadership experience and a track record of operating within a fast-paced environment.

You will ideally bring

• Previous experience in a Financial Controller, Group Financial Controller or senior finance leadership role.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge with experience overseeing statutory and management reporting.
• Experience managing audits and maintaining effective financial controls.
• A proactive and commercially focused mindset with excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Experience partnering with non-finance teams and translating financial information into actionable insight.
• Prior exposure to forecasting, budgeting and financial analysis.
• Experience within a private equity-backed, acquisitive or rapidly growing business would be highly advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience leading teams through periods of change, growth or acquisition integration.

Job Offer

• Salary ranging from £90,000 to £100,000, dependent on the level of experience.
• 15% performance-based bonus.
• £6,000 car allowance.
• Flexible working arrangements.