Interim Financial Controller

CMA Recruitment Group; Winchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

CMA Recruitment Group is seeking an Interim Financial Controller for a large not-for-profit in Winchester. The role is a six-month, on-site assignment reporting to the Finance Director and Head of Financial Operations, with a hands-on remit to improve controls during a finance system replacement.

The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant with interim experience, strong control background, and a track record in automating finance processes.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA or CIMA) with interim experience.
• Hands-on financial control including reconciliations and controls.
• Experience automating and improving finance processes.
• Able to work through change and transformation in finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of financial control across the finance function and acting as senior support to the Finance Director.
• Reviewing balance sheet reconciliations and rebuilding them in an automated, review-friendly format.
• Identifying manual processes and replacing them with efficient workflows.
• Embedding new processes and building capability within the team.
• Supporting the Head of Financial Operations to rebalance workload across the team.
• Contributing to the design of the future finance team structure.
• Strengthening processes and controls ahead of the finance system replacement.
• Keeping month-end and day-to-day finance operations running through the change period.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Interim experience

Financial control

Process automation

Change management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Job description

Interim Financial Controller

Our client, a large and well-established not-for-profit organisation based in Winchester, is looking for an experienced Interim Financial Controller to join on a six-month contract. The finance function is going through a period of change, with a finance system replacement planned for next year. This role will take ownership of financial control and keep day-to-day operations running while that happens, reporting to the Finance Director and working closely with the Head of Financial Operations. It is a hands-on interim role suited to someone who enjoys going into a team, improving how things are done and leaving the function in a stronger position than they found it.

Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of financial control across the finance function and acting as senior support to the Finance Director


• Reviewing balance sheet reconciliations and rebuilding them in a more automated and easily reviewed format


• Identifying manual processes and spreadsheet-based workarounds and replacing them with more efficient ways of working


• Working alongside the finance team day to day to embed new processes and build capability


• Supporting the Head of Financial Operations to rebalance workload across the team


• Contributing to the design of the future finance team structure


• Strengthening processes and controls ahead of the finance system replacement


• Keeping month-end and day-to-day finance operations running smoothly through a period of change

Suitable Candidate

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with experience at Financial Controller level


• Previous interim experience, with a track record of stepping in and delivering quickly with minimal handholding


• Strong financial control background covering reconciliations, controls and process improvement


• Hands-on experience of automating and improving finance processes


• Experience of working through change, restructure or transformation within a finance team


• Confident and personable, able to sit with colleagues, show them a better way of working and bring them along with it


• Experience in a large or complex organisation would be useful

Benefits and other information

• Six-month contract starting late October or November 2026


• Four or five days per week, based on site in Winchester


• £65,000 – £75,000 pro rata on a fixed-term basis, with day rate options considered for experienced contractors


• Salary will be dependent on experience