Group Financial Accountant / Controller

WH Finance Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A rapidly expanding business in Greater London is seeking their first in-house Group Financial Accountant / Controller. This role involves establishing and leading the finance function, preparing reports for the Board, and ensuring compliance and audit readiness. The successful candidate will have ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualifications, experience in a senior finance role, and be comfortable with Xero and Excel. A flexible work-from-home arrangement is available for 1 day per week.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior finance role responsible for financial reporting.
• Experience owning the full accounting cycle including year-end accounts and VAT returns.
• Comfortable being hands-on and improving processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end financial control across the group.
• Deliver management accounts and year-end statutory accounts.
• Implement and maintain accounting policies and templates.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns.
• Lead preparation for the group's first statutory audit.
• Provide financial due diligence support on acquisitions.

Skills

Financial reporting

Accounting cycle ownership

Technical accounting

Consolidation skills

Xero proficiency

Excel skills

Education

ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified

Tools

Xero

Excel

Job description

My client is a rapidly expanding business growing through an aggressive acquisition strategy and they are now looking to recruit their first in‑house Group Financial Accountant / Controller to establish and lead the finance function, building a scalable finance function from the ground up. This would be primarily office based to help create the corporate culture but my client is flexible for you to work 1 day per week from home.

This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage and shape the finance function from day one. You will work directly with the founders and prepare reports for the Board and the investors. The role is fully hands‑on — ideal for someone who wants to combine technical rigour with operational responsibility and commercial exposure.

What you’ll do

• Lead end‑to‑end financial control across the group
• Deliver management accounts and year‑end statutory accounts, ensuring consistency, compliance, and audit readiness.
• Implement and maintain a consistent chart of accounts, accounting policies, and reporting templates.
• Oversee transactional accounting in Xero and ensure accuracy and consistency across entities.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns, including management of partial VAT exemption.
• Lead the preparation for and coordination of the group's first statutory audit, working closely with external auditors.
• Provide financial due diligence support on potential acquisitions, working closely with the founders and external advisers.
• Support the integration of new acquisitions (onboarding, accounting setup, reporting alignment).
• Monitor group cash flow and develop forecasting and treasury management processes.
• Prepare investor and board reporting packs and liaise with external stakeholders.
• Work with the founders on financial modelling, budgets, and fundraising support.

Who we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, with proven experience in a senior finance role with responsibility for financial reporting.
• Proven experience owning the full accounting cycle – from month‑end close and management accounts through to preparation of statutory (year‑end) accounts, VAT returns, and audit coordination.
• Strong technical accounting and consolidation skills.
• Comfortable being hands‑on – happy to prepare accounts, reconcile, and improve processes.
• Confident using Xero, Excel, and management‑reporting tool.

This is a great opportunity with significant scope for progression as the group scales and interviews are ongoing so apply now.