Financial Controller | Fast-Growth Sustainable Food

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing food and beverage scale-up in London is seeking a Financial Controller to lead their finance function. This pivotal role involves budgeting, forecasting, and managing financial operations while providing strategic insights. The ideal candidate will be a fully qualified accountant with experience in dynamic environments, committed to driving positive change in the food industry. With plans for rapid growth, there are clear progression opportunities to Finance Director within 12-18 months.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in a high-growth SME or scale-up environment.
• Proven ability to lead the month-end close process.
• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of operational and strategic finance.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and FP&A processes.
• Oversee financial KPIs, customer profitability, and margin analysis.
• Manage cash flow reporting and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Own the full month-end process and production of management accounts.
• Mentor and develop the trainee accountant.
• Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable functions.
• Drive financial analysis to support commercial decisions.
• Partner with the leadership team to embed robust financial controls.
• Oversee statutory reporting, including annual accounts, audit, tax, VAT, and packaging tax compliance.
• Support senior leadership with retailer negotiations and international expansion planning.
• Continuously improve financial systems, processes, and reporting structures.

Skills

Operational finance

Strategic finance

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Excel

Communication skills

Education

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

Job Description

Financial Controller | Fast-Growth Sustainable Food & Beverage Scale-Up | London/Hybrid

Harmonic Finance are delighted to be partnering with one of the UK's most exciting food and beverage scale-ups. Renowned for championing organic ingredients and sustainable consumption, this is a category-defining business producing high-quality, nutritious products.

With a rapidly growing international brand generating over £100m+ in revenue, the UK & Ireland division has consistently doubled in size year-on-year, on track to exceed £6m+ this year with plans to double again in the next financial year, as a result we are looking for a Financial Controller to lead this division. Their products are already listed in major UK supermarkets and online platforms, with significant new distribution deals in the pipeline across the UK and other key global markets. This is an opportunity to join a business at an exciting stage of growth, with direct exposure to the Board of Directors and clear progression opportunities to Finance Director within the next 12-18 months as their growth accelerates further.

Following significant investment and sustained expansion, the UK team has grown rapidly, attracting ambitious, mission-driven individuals who are passionate about driving positive change in the food industry. They take pride in manufacturing their product in the UK and producing them with minimal preservatives and artificial flavours.

The business prides itself on a collaborative, engaging, and high-performing culture. The team is passionate about building a positive, inclusive environment where everyone's voice is heard and personal development is actively encouraged. Sustainability and product quality are at the heart of everything they do, with decisions guided by ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and a commitment to nutritional excellence. This purpose-driven approach is balanced with a strong commercial focus, allowing the business to scale rapidly while staying true to its mission of creating meaningful impact in the food and beverage sector.

The Role:

Reporting directly to the Managing Director and working closely with the CEO and Operations Director, the Financial Controller will lead the finance function for the UK, Ireland, and Middle East regions. With the support of a trainee accountant, you will oversee both day-to-day financial operations and deliver commercial insights to drive strategic decision-making.

This is a pivotal role offering a clear pathway to Finance Director as the business continues to scale.

Responsibilities:

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and FP&A processes




• Oversee financial KPIs, customer profitability, and margin analysis




• Manage cash flow reporting and balance sheet reconciliations




• Own the full month-end process and production of management accounts




• Mentor and develop the trainee accountant




• Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable functions




• Drive financial analysis to support commercial decisions (e.g., customer & SKU performance, NPD reviews)




• Partner with the leadership team to embed robust financial controls




• Oversee statutory reporting, including annual accounts, audit, tax, VAT, and packaging tax compliance




• Support senior leadership with retailer negotiations and international expansion planning




• Continuously improve financial systems, processes, and reporting structures

What We're Looking For:

Essential:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)




• Hands-on experience in a high-growth SME or scale-up environment




• Strong understanding of both operational and strategic finance




• Proficiency in leading the month-end close process




• Commercially minded with excellent communication skills




• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment




• Strong Excel skills

Desirable:

• Experience within Food & Beverage, Consumer Goods, or FMCG sectors




• Exposure to international markets or multi-entity environments




• Prior experience with Oracle Cloud or similar ERP systems




• A passion for sustainability and creating a positive social impact

Salary: £75,000 - £90,000 + bonus

Start Date: ASAP / 3 months maximum

Location: Central London (hybrid working, 2 days in office)

For more information, please get in touch with Dan at

At Harmonic, we are committed to building inclusive and equitable workplaces. We warmly welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered, regardless of , religion, , , or .

At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to , religion, expression, , or .