Group Finance Manager

Cedar Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cedar Recruitment is supporting a PE-backed infrastructure business in Crewe to appoint a Group Finance Manager who will lead a team of 10 and own month-end, balance sheet integrity and intercompany processes.

The role entails shaping financial controls, reporting to investors and lenders, and driving process improvements as the group scales. You will partner with senior stakeholders and support the year-end audit with a hands-on approach.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with leadership experience at manager level or above.
• Strong technical accounting skills and a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with balance sheet control and intercompany reconciliations.
• PE-backed exposure is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 10 across management accounting and finance staff.
• Own month-end close and reporting to tight timetables.
• Manage intercompany accounting across the group and intercompany reconciliations.
• Maintain balance sheet integrity with timely reconciliations.
• Oversee overhead reporting and collaborate with budget holders.
• Drive process improvements and support year-end audit.

Skills

People management

Balance sheet control

Month end close

Intercompany accounting

Process improvement

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified

Job description

Group Finance Manager, PE-backed Infrastructure, Crewe, £85,000 + bonus

This is a chance to join a growing, private equity-backed infrastructure business as Group Financial Manager. You’ll run the group’s core finance operation, making sure month end, the balance sheet and all transactional finance are accurate, on time and well controlled. You’ll lead a team of 10 and play a central role in improving processes as the business scales.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and team management

• Lead, develop and motivate a team of 10: 5 Management Accountants and 5 Finance Assistants.
• Set clear objectives, manage performance and build a strong, capable team.
• Act as the main point of escalation for the team and support their technical development.

Month end and reporting

• Own the group month-end close, delivering accurate results to tight timetables.
• Review management accounts and supporting analysis before they go to senior finance leadership.
• Help produce reporting for the PE investors and lenders as required.

Intercompany

• Manage intercompany accounting across the group, including recharges, reconciliations and eliminations.
• Make sure intercompany balances agree every month and resolve differences quickly.

Balance sheet

• Take ownership of balance sheet integrity across the group.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations so that all balances are supported, understood and cleared on time.
• Oversee accruals, prepayments, provisions and fixed assets.

Transactional finance

• Have overall responsibility for all transactional finance, including purchase ledger, sales ledger, credit control, payments and cash allocation.
• Make sure controls work well and that the team meets its KPIs.

Overheads

• Manage overhead reporting and analysis, challenging spend and highlighting variances and savings opportunities.
• Work with budget holders across the business.

Process and controls

• Manage and improve finance processes and controls throughout the function.
• Find opportunities to automate and streamline work, and support system improvements as the group grows.
• Support the year-end audit process and be a key contact for the external auditors.

About You

• Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with experience at Financial Manager level or above.
• Proven people manager, comfortable leading a sizeable team that covers both management accounting and transactional staff.
• Strong technical accounting skills, especially in balance sheet control, intercompany and month end in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience improving processes and controls in a fast-paced environment.
• PE-backed experience is desirable but not essential.
• Hands-on, organised and able to influence stakeholders at all levels.