Interim Financial Controller (2 days per week)

HW Finance; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 92,000 - 111,000; Part time

Job summary

HW Finance seeks an experienced Interim / Fractional Financial Controller for an owner-managed SME gearing up for potential exit. The role is 2-3 days per week, focusing on bringing in-house finance controls and robust monthly reporting.

The successful candidate will establish MI, boards reporting, forecasting and budgeting processes, while delivering commercial insights to owners and supporting due diligence for exit readiness.

Qualifications

• Strong experience within owner-managed / SME businesses.
• Proven ability to improve financial reporting and controls.
• Experience in management accounts, MI, forecasting and cash-flow.
• Ability to work independently and hit the ground running.
• Exposure to transaction, sale, refinancing, PE investment or exit processes.
• Translate financial information into clear commercial recommendations for owners/directors.

Responsibilities

• Bring the finance function in-house and own day-to-day financial control environment.
• Establish reliable monthly management accounts process with commentary.
• Improve timeliness and quality of financial information.
• Develop meaningful management information and Board reporting.
• Introduce robust monthly reporting packs with commentary and analysis.
• Develop forecasting and budgeting processes.
• Improve visibility over cash flow, profitability, working capital and key drivers.
• Review existing processes and controls and identify improvements.
• Support owners/directors with commercial insights for decision making and due diligence.

Skills

SME experience

Finance reporting

Cash flow forecasting

Management accounts

Board reporting

Business partnering

Exit readiness

Job description

Interim Fractional Financial Controller - Exit Preparation

2-3 days per week £500-£600 per day 6-month initial assignment

We are working with a profitable, established owner-managed business that is entering an important period of growth and preparation ahead of a potential transaction/exit.

The business is performing well, but its finance function has historically been relatively light-touch, with limited formal monthly reporting and management information. As the business moves towards a potential exit, the owners are looking to bring greater structure, accuracy and commercial insight into the finance function.

We are therefore looking for an experienced Interim / Fractional Financial Controller to come in on a 2-3 day per week basis and take ownership of this process.

The role

This is a hands-on role for someone who can quickly assess the existing finance processes, bring reporting up to an appropriate standard and establish a robust financial control and MI framework.

Key priorities will include:

• Bringing the finance function in-house and taking ownership of the day-to-day financial control environment


• Establishing a reliable and accurate monthly management accounts process


• Improving the timeliness and quality of financial information


• Developing meaningful management information and Board reporting


• Introducing robust monthly reporting packs, with clear commentary and analysis


• Building an appropriate forecasting and budgeting process


• Improving visibility over cash flow, profitability, working capital and key business drivers


• Reviewing existing processes, controls and accounting procedures and identifying areas for improvement


• Working closely with the owners/directors to provide commercial insight rather than simply producing the numbers


• Ensuring the financial information is accurate, current and presented in a way that supports both decision-making and future due diligence


• Helping prepare the business and its financial reporting for a potential transaction/exit

The person

We are looking for an experienced FC, Financial Controller, Finance Director or similarly senior interim finance professional who is comfortable operating in a hands-on SME environment.

Ideally, you will have:

• Strong experience within owner-managed / SME businesses


• A track record of coming into businesses and improving financial reporting and controls


• Strong management accounts, MI, forecasting and cash-flow experience


• The ability to work independently and hit the ground running


• A pragmatic, hands-on approach - this is not a role for someone looking to manage a large team


• Ideally, previous exposure to a transaction, sale, refinancing, PE investment or exit process


• The ability to work closely with owners/directors and translate financial information into clear commercial recommendations

The opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a profitable business at an important stage of its development, with a clear mandate to professionalise the finance function and get the business into a much stronger position ahead of a potential transaction.

The initial requirement is 2-3 days per week for approximately 6 months, with the potential for the assignment to develop depending on the transaction timetable and ongoing requirements.