Financial Controller

Sowena Group; Wigan; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sowena Group is seeking a Financial Controller to lead financial management across two established businesses within the Group. You will balance strong financial control with a commercial approach, delivering timely management accounts, meaningful insight and robust reporting.

The role focuses on strengthening controls, reporting improvements and scalable finance processes to support growth and value creation.

Qualifications

• Experience in management accounting and financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of UK GAAP and statutory reporting.
• Proven ability to improve financial controls and processes.

Responsibilities

• Own monthly management accounts, P&L and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Strengthen controls, improve reporting and develop finance processes.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting and working capital management.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting and KPIs for MI quality.
• Support audit process and external advisers; ensure statutory reporting.

Skills

Management accounting

Financial reporting

Financial control

Commercial insight

Cash flow management

Stakeholder management

Ambiguity handling

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA Qualified

Job description

Our client is part of a private equity backed, high growth services Group. The business has grown significantly both organically and through acquisition, and are continuing to expand with a clear growth strategy in place. The focus is to strengthen governance, financial controls, systems, processes and management information. This is an exciting period for the business and an opportunity for a Financial Controller to play a key role in supporting operational performance, integration and long-term value creation.

The Role

The Financial Controller will take responsibility for the financial management, control and production of management accounts across two established businesses within the Group. Working closely with operational leadership to provide meaningful financial insight, improve performance, support margin development and strengthen cash and working capital management.

This is a hands-on role, suited to an individual who enjoys working in an evolving environment and is comfortable balancing strong financial control with a commercial and practical approach. Initially, the role will require focus on strengthening controls, improving reporting and developing finance processes.

The role will also act as an important link between the businesses, Group Finance and central functions, helping to embed consistent financial standards whilst supporting the continued development of the wider Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Maintain and strengthen effective financial controls, identifying and addressing gaps in existing processes, systems and data.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, working capital management and cash collection in partnership with central finance teams.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting activities and develop relevant KPIs to improve the quality and usefulness of management information.
• Support the annual audit process and relationship with external advisers, ensuring timely and accurate statutory reporting.
• Oversee relevant tax and statutory compliance requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve the accuracy and efficiency of financial reporting and control.

Operational Finance & Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted finance partner to senior operational management.
• Provide commercially focused insight to support decision-making, cost control, margin improvement and business performance.
• Support project and contract accounting, including WIP, cost-to-complete analysis and project profitability.
• Work with operational teams to understand financial performance, identify risks and highlight opportunities for improvement.
• Translate financial information into clear, practical and actionable insight for non-financial stakeholders.

Systems, Integration & Transformation

• Support the integration of operating businesses into the Group's finance structures, controls and reporting framework.
• Play an active role in the implementation and development of the Group's finance systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, consistency and efficiency as the Group continues to scale.
• Support the transition of standardised, system-led reporting.
• Contribute to the development of a scalable finance operating model across the Group.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Oversee and support transactional finance resources within the operating businesses.
• Assess existing capabilities and contribute to the development of the future finance team structure.
• Provide guidance to non-finance colleagues involved in finance-related activities.
• Build strong working relationships with operational leadership and central Group functions.
• Work collaboratively across finance, treasury, systems, compliance and other relevant functions.

About You

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA Qualified
• Strong experience in management accounting, financial reporting and financial control.
• Experience of improving finance processes, systems or controls.
• Good understanding of UK GAAP and statutory reporting requirements.
• Understanding of contract accounting, WIP and project margins would be beneficial.
• Strong understanding of cash flow, working capital and the financial drivers of operational businesses.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and managing change.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the confidence to constructively challenge senior operational stakeholders.
• Able to balance robust financial control with a pragmatic and solutions-focused approach.