Financial Controller / Head of Finance

Heidi Wright Recruitment; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a qualified accountant for a senior leadership role to manage the finance function. You will oversee audits, manage banking relationships, and lead a finance team. The ideal candidate will have strong reporting and budgeting skills, and experience in a senior finance role. The offered salary ranges from £70,000 to £85,000, plus additional benefits including annual leave and bonuses.

Benefits

Salary range £70,000 - £85,000

Up to 10% management bonus

33 days annual leave

Life assurance

Company pension contributions

Enhanced maternity and paternity policies

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance role.
• Track record of leading finance teams in industry.
• Strong technical expertise in financial reporting and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee finance function and ensure robust financial control.
• Lead a finance and IT team and deliver budgets and forecasts.
• Manage audits and tax compliance (UK and international).
• Drive continuous improvement across finance processes.

Skills

Leadership

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Cash flow management

Stakeholder influencing

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Job description

Permanent | Full-time | Senior Leadership Role

The Role

As part of the senior leadership team, you'll take full ownership of the finance function, ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting, and forward-looking analysis to support strategic decision-making. Acting as Company Secretary, you'll oversee all company accounting activities, drive improvements to cash flow forecasting and debtor/creditor management, and deliver high-quality Management Information (MI) that enables the business to grow sustainably.

You'll also:

• Lead and inspire a small finance and IT team.
• Deliver timely budgets, forecasts, and statutory accounts.
• Oversee audits, tax compliance (UK and international), and insurances.
• Manage banking relationships, foreign currency payments, and cash flow.
• Take responsibility for the company's accounting systems and upcoming upgrades.
• Support the company's export and overseas operations in the USA, Middle East, and Ireland.
• Drive continuous improvement across finance processes and business reporting.

About You

We're looking for a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance role. You'll bring:

• A proven track record of leading finance teams in industry.
• Strong technical expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, and cash flow management.
• Strategic insight with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• A proactive, hands-on leadership style with a drive for continuous improvement.
• Experience in manufacturing or international trade would be an advantage, though not essential.

What's on Offer

Our client believe in rewarding their people with a benefits package that recognises your contribution and supports your wellbeing, including:

• Salary range £70,000 - £85,000 dependant of level of experience
• Up to 10% management bonus
• 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) + your birthday off
• Loyalty rewards scheme (extra holidays at 3 and 5 years' service)
• Life assurance (4x basic salary, for pension members)
• Company pension contributions
• Enhanced maternity and paternity policies
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme and employee discounts
• Sick pay support
• Employee referral scheme
• Hours of Work: 08.30-16.50 M-Th, 08.30-16.30 Friday (36.3 hours per week)

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a company with solid financial foundations (£12m projected turnover for 2025/26) and to play a key role in shaping its future growth, both in the UK and internationally. With exciting projects ahead—including IT system development, export growth strategies, and overseas compliance—this is a role that offers real impact, variety, and progression.