Interim Financial Controller - Out of Scope

Marks Sattin Ltd; Chester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

We are partnering with an impressive South Manchester based SME in a significant growth phase, seeking a hands-on Financial Controller to enhance finance functions and deliver robust management information.

The role reports to the leadership team and focuses on improving reporting accuracy, streamlining processes and enabling scalable growth through effective finance governance.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent.
• Proven experience as Financial Controller or senior finance leader in a growing SME.
• Strong track record of improving management accounts and reporting.
• Hands-on with change management and process improvements.
• Excellent stakeholder management to influence senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly management accounts production and review.
• Improve month-end processes and reporting timeliness.
• Implement best-practice controls and governance.
• Drive improvements in management reporting and KPIs.
• Oversee treasury and cashflow forecasting.
• Prepare group consolidations and board reports.
• Support audit preparation and year-end sign-off.
• Mentor the finance team and drive accountability.

Education

FCA/ACA/CIMA or equivalent

Job description

We are partnering with an impressive in South Manchester, forward-thinking SME business, currently undergoing a significant period of growth and operational development. Reporting directly to an experienced leadership team, this is a highly visible role requiring a hands-on, commercially focused Financial Controller who enjoys improving finance functions, solving problems, and leaving a lasting impact.

The Opportunity

You will play a key role in enhancing the monthly management accounts process, improving reporting accuracy, streamlining financial processes, and ensuring the finance team can support the next stage of growth.

This is not a "business as usual" Financial Controller role. The business is seeking an experienced finance professional who can quickly assess the current finance function, identify inefficiencies, strengthen finance management accounts, and improve the quality and timeliness of management information.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the production, review and enhancement of monthly management accounts, ensuring accuracy, robustness and meaningful commercial insight.
• Assess and improve existing month-end processes, reducing reporting timelines and increasing efficiency.
• Review current finance procedures and implement best-practice controls, processes and governance.
• Drive improvements across management reporting, KPIs and business performance reporting.
• Support the clean-up and resolution of historical accounting issues, balance sheet reconciliations and process gaps where required.
• Prepare monthly group consolidations and board-level financial reports.
• Lead audit preparation activities and improve processes to achieve faster and more efficient year-end audit sign-off.
• Oversee treasury management, including ownership of short and medium-term cashflow forecasting.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to provide financial analysis and decision-support.
• Identify and deliver finance transformation initiatives that improve scalability and support continued business growth.
• Mentor and support the wider finance team, establishing stronger reporting disciplines and accountability.

About You

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience operating as a Financial Controller or Senior Finance Leader within a growing SME or mid-sized business.
• Strong track record of improving management accounts processes, financial reporting and finance operations.
• Comfortable stepping into environments that require structure, organisation and change.
• Hands-on approach with the ability to both deliver and improve.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a natural ability to identify issues, implement solutions and drive improvements quickly.
• Experience of finance transformation, process improvement and change management projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge and influence senior leaders.

Why Apply?

• £500 per day Outside IR35 contract 6months with flexibility and autonomy. 1 or 2days onsite
• Highly visible role reporting into an impressive leadership team.
• Opportunity to make a genuine impact on the finance function.
• Business undergoing an exciting period of growth and transformation
• Chance to leave a lasting legacy by creating a more efficient, scalable and commercially focused finance operation.

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