Group Financial Controller

HW Finance; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career progression

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Pension

Travel between Leeds and Stockton

25 days leave

Job summary

HW Finance in Stockton-on-Tees is seeking a Group Financial Controller to lead the finance function during a growth phase, reporting to the CFO and guiding an established finance team in a PE-backed environment.

The role covers month-end close, group consolidation, budgeting, FP&A, and financial modelling, with a clear progression path to Finance Director. Hybrid working with three days in the office and regular travel between Leeds and Stockton, plus private medical insurance and pension.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with strong financial control experience.
• Experience leading a finance team across multiple sites.
• Experience in a private equity environment is advantageous.
• Proven ability to deliver timely management reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multi-site finance team.
• Own month-end close, consolidation, and KPI reporting.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, FP&A and financial modelling.
• Oversee external audits, statutory reporting and tax matters.
• Work with CFO and Board on strategic priorities.
• Drive process improvements and system enhancements.
• Support post-acquisition integration and future M&A activity.
• Manage payroll, sales reporting and commission processes.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Group FC experience

Team leadership

Financial reporting

Commercial awareness

Acquisitions exposure

Education

Qualified Accountant

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Stockton-on-Tees | Hybrid Working | Private Equity-Backed Business

Package: Salary up to £75,000 + benefits + clear progression

An ambitious, private equity-backed SME business is seeking a commercially minded Group Financial Controller to lead its finance function and support the next phase of growth.

The business has grown through acquisition and is now focused on integrating its operations, strengthening financial processes and creating a scalable platform for future expansion. This is a high-profile opportunity to work closely with the CFO and lead an established finance team.

With a clear progression pathway, this role would suit an ambitious Financial Controller or Senior Finance Manager looking for broader leadership, commercial exposure and long-term career development.

The Role

Reporting directly to the CFO, you will take ownership of the day-to-day finance function while supporting strategic planning, business improvement and future acquisition activity.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading, developing and motivating an established finance team.
• Owning the month-end close process and delivering accurate, timely management accounts.
• Managing Group consolidation and enhancing financial, KPI and Board reporting.
• Strengthening budgeting, forecasting, FP&A and financial modelling.
• Leading cash flow management, working capital reporting and short-term cash forecasting.
• Providing clear financial insight to support operational and commercial decision-making.
• Integrating acquired businesses into consistent Group systems, processes, controls and reporting structures.
• Driving improvements in finance systems, automation, dashboards and reporting tools.
• Supporting future acquisitions and post-acquisition integration.
• Overseeing key operational finance activities, including payroll, sales reporting and commission processing.
• Managing the external audit process, statutory reporting, tax matters and financial compliance.
• Working closely with the CFO, senior leadership team and Board on strategic and operational priorities.

About You:

You will be a qualified Accountant with strong financial control experience and the ambition to develop into a broader Finance Director role.

You are likely to have:

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification.
• Experience as a Group Financial Controller, Financial Controller or Senior Finance Manager.
• Proven experience of leading and developing a finance team.
• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting capability.
• Experience of improving finance processes, systems, reporting or automation.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to turn financial information into meaningful business insight.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and the confidence to lead change.
• Experience within a multi-site, acquisitive or private equity-backed environment would be advantageous.

What’s on Offer:

• A high-impact leadership role within an ambitious, private equity-backed business.
• The opportunity to shape and develop the Group finance function.
• Broad exposure to commercial finance, strategic planning, business improvement and future M&A activity.
• Close collaboration with the CFO, senior leadership team and Board.
• A clear progression pathway.
• Hybrid working, with three days per week in the office.
• The role can be based in Leeds or Stockton-on-Tees, with regular travel between locations where required.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
• Private medical insurance, life assurance and pension.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance leader who wants to make a visible impact in a growing business while building towards a future Finance Director position.