Interim Deputy Group Financial Controller

Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited; West Malling; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited is seeking an Interim Deputy Group Financial Controller in a hybrid role (West Malling). The post is a 3-6 month FTC, reporting to the Group Financial Controller. The role focuses on managing accounts and strengthening controls while driving month-end and audit processes.

Ideal candidates are immediately available, with a strong track record in financial control, forecasting and balance sheet ownership, plus leadership of finance teams and ERP governance.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent.
• Experience in financial control with consolidation and balance sheet ownership.
• Proven ability to lead finance teams and develop managers.
• Experience owning rolling forecasts and variance analysis.
• Experience overseeing accounts payable and supplier controls.
• Strong Excel and ERP governance skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and structured delivery.
• Experience in multi-site environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and performance-manage functional leads to operate independently within a control framework.
• Deputise for the Group Financial Controller when required.
• Ensure each process has an owner and a clear audit trail.
• Develop and enforce processes, reconciliations and internal controls.
• Set reporting rhythms and KPIs; log and resolve risks and control gaps.

Skills

Financial control

Management accounting

Team leadership

Forecasting & variance analysis

Accounts payable

Excel skills

Stakeholder management

KPI delivery & organisation

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Interim Deputy Group Financial Controller

Location: West Malling (Hybrid Working, 2 days in office)

Contract: 3 - 6 Month FTC

Salary: £85k - £95k FTE, DOE + 20% bonus + additional benefits

Reporting to: Group Financial Controller

Start Date: Available to start immediately or by the end of October

The opportunity

A large, multi-site service organisation, part of a wider group, is looking for a Deputy Financial Controller to join the business on an interim basis, to take overall accountability for management accounting, head office accounting, group balance sheet control, forecasting and accounts payable.

It will suit an experienced immediately available finance leader who enjoys building a well-run function as much as the technical work: someone who sets a clear operating rhythm, develops their direct reports to work independently, and wants month-end, year-end and audit to run with minimal firefighting.

What you'll be doing

Leadership and control

• Lead, coach and performance-manage the functional leads, developing them to operate independently within the agreed control framework
• Deputise for the Group Financial Controller as required
• Ensure every process has a named owner, every control is identified, and there is a clear audit trail of adherence
• Create, develop and enforce processes, policies, reconciliations, checklists and internal controls
• Set weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting rhythms, using agreed KPIs to track team performance, and make sure risks, errors and control gaps are logged and resolved promptly

Management accounts and balance sheet

• Oversee the timely, accurate preparation and consolidation of the group's monthly management accounts
• Lead monthly dashboard discussions with operational management, identifying financial risks, opportunities and actions
• Take responsibility for the group balance sheet, ensuring reconciliations are completed and independently reviewed
• Lead quarterly balance sheet reviews and the quarterly management accounts process, maintaining year-end readiness and alignment with parent company requirements
• Oversee ledger governance, including the chart of accounts, access rights and period and year-end controls
• Support the corporate accounting function through month-end, year-end and external audit

Forecasting

• Own and coordinate the rolling forecast, including the bi-weekly outlook and the annual forecast and planning cycle
• Work with operational and finance stakeholders to make sure forecasts are evidence-based, and constructively challenge submissions
• Analyse performance against budget and forecast, explain material variances, and develop scenario and sensitivity analysis to support decisions

Accounts payable

• Oversee the accounts payable function, including invoice processing, payment runs, expenses, petty cash, and prepaid and virtual cards
• Maintain robust controls over supplier onboarding, master data, payment approvals and bank detail changes, with clear segregation of duties
• Keep spend controls proportionate and effective without getting in the way of operational efficiency
• Monitor KPIs on timeliness, accuracy, control adherence and aged creditors, and build strong relationships with procurement, suppliers and operational teams

About you

Essential

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Significant experience in a financial control role, including management accounts consolidation and balance sheet ownership
• A track record of leading and developing finance teams, including managers or functional leads
• Experience owning or coordinating rolling forecasts and variance analysis
• Experience overseeing accounts payable, with a strong grasp of payment and supplier controls
• Confident with ERP ledger governance, and strong Excel skills
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, comfortable working with operational leaders
• Highly organised, with a structured approach to deliverables, KPIs and continuous improvement

Desirable

• Experience in a multi-site service environment