Group Financial Controller

Sowena Group; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sowena Group in Liverpool is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to own the financial reporting cycle across multiple entities and strengthen internal controls. You will lead a team, deliver accurate monthly management accounts, lender reporting, and strategic insights for decision-making.

This hands-on leadership role requires technical accounting expertise and collaboration with the CFO and operational leaders.

Qualifications

• Qualified with ACA/ACCA/CIMA and post-qualification experience (min 5 years).
• Strong knowledge of management accounts, month-end, budgeting, forecasting, VAT and statutory accounts.
• Experience leading multi-entity finance teams and lender reporting.

Responsibilities

• Own the month-end close across multiple group entities with intercompany reconciliations.
• Produce monthly management accounts, board packs, and variance analysis.
• Manage lender reporting, covenant compliance and external audits.
• Drive process improvement and automation of finance workflows.
• Lead and develop the finance team and partner with operations.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Attention to detail

Stakeholder communication

Process improvement

Education

ACCA/ACA/CIMA qualified

Tools

Excel

Accounting software

ERP systems

Reporting automation

AI tools

Job description

Reporting to: Chief Financial Officer

About the Company

Our client is an established, multi-entity group with a diverse portfolio of business activities and an ambitious growth strategy. Operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, the group is focused on expanding its operations, strengthening financial performance and improving business processes through technology and automation. With a close-knit senior leadership team and a commitment to continuous improvement, this is an opportunity to join a growing organisation and play a key role in its ongoing development.

The Role

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the successful candidate will take ownership of the financial reporting cycle, strengthen internal controls, improve processes and provide reliable financial information to support business performance and strategic decision-making.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a balance of technical accounting expertise, operational involvement and team management. The role offers an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of an established finance function, introduce greater consistency and automation, and develop a team capable of supporting the group's ongoing requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control and Month-End

• Own the month-end close across multiple group entities, including journals, accruals, prepayments, fixed asset accounting and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Maintain effective intercompany accounting and reconciliation processes, ensuring discrepancies are investigated and resolved promptly.
• Maintain accurate, consistently coded accounting ledgers to ensure reliable overhead analysis and financial reporting.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen controls, improve accuracy and accelerate the month-end process.

Management Reporting

• Produce monthly management accounts and board packs for senior management and relevant stakeholders, including profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, KPIs and variance commentary against budget and forecast.
• Prepare lender reporting packs, covenant compliance certificates and supporting financial schedules, acting as the day-to-day finance contact for lenders and their advisers.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes.

Financial Management and Stakeholder Reporting

• Oversee the preparation of financial information and supporting schedules for external stakeholders.
• Monitor financial reporting obligations and ensure submissions are accurate, complete and delivered within agreed deadlines.
• Maintain effective relationships with external accountants, auditors, advisers and other relevant stakeholders.

Statutory Accounting, Tax and Compliance

• Coordinate year-end accounting processes and statutory accounts across multiple legal entities, working closely with external advisers.
• Oversee relevant tax reporting and submissions, ensuring compliance with applicable requirements and deadlines.
• Ensure appropriate supporting documentation, reconciliations and audit trails are maintained.
• Develop and maintain a robust financial controls framework, including supplier approval processes, payment controls and segregation of duties.

Process Improvement and Automation

• Take ownership of the finance function's accounting and reporting systems, ensuring data integrity, appropriate access controls and effective reporting capabilities.
• Standardise reporting processes and identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve system utilisation.
• Lead initiatives to automate recurring finance activities and improve the efficiency of the month-end and reporting cycles.
• Develop and maintain documented finance procedures to support consistency, accountability and business continuity.

Team Leadership and Business Partnering

• Lead, develop and manage an established finance team, providing clear direction, objectives and performance expectations.
• Work collaboratively with operational leaders to improve financial understanding and support commercial decisions.
• Present financial information and recommendations to senior management and support the Chief Financial Officer with group reporting and ad hoc analysis.

About You

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, with at least five years' post qualification experience.
• Proven experience as a Financial Controller, Head of Finance or equivalent.
• Strong technical knowledge of management accounts, month-end, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, statutory accounts and VAT.
• Experience managing multiple entities, lender reporting, covenant compliance and intercompany accounting.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting systems, reporting automation and AI tools.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a finance team, strengthen controls and improve processes.
• Hands-on, commercially minded and highly organised, with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident communicator, comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.