Internal Group Financial Controller

Swansway Group; Crewe; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking on-site

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Birthday off

Long service recognition

Cycle to work

Job summary

Swansway Group, headquartered in Crewe, seeks a Group Internal Financial Controller to steer day-to-day accounting and lead the Head Office finance team. You will ensure strict UK statutory compliance and drive cost efficiencies across the automotive group.

Reporting to the Finance Director, you will oversee financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow, and risk management while collaborating with senior stakeholders and external auditors.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of post-qualification experience in a senior accounting role.
• Strong knowledge of UK GAAP and statutory accounting laws.
• Experience managing finance personnel and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Head Office Finance team and oversee daily accounting functions.
• Deliver monthly and annual management accounts with commentary.
• Coordinate annual budgets, manage liquidity and variances.
• Ensure compliance with UK GAAP/IFRS and HMRC regulations.
• Review dealership P&L accounts and manage high-value payments.
• Document internal controls and flag irregularities to the FD.

Skills

Team leadership

Financial reporting

Budgeting & cash flow

Audit & compliance

Risk & advisory

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Job description

Are you an experienced senior finance professional looking to steer the financial operations of a major automotive group? Swansway Motor Group is looking for a Group Internal Financial Controller to manage our day-to-day accounting functions. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, you will lead our talented Head Office finance team, ensure strict UK statutory compliance, and play a pivotal role in driving cost efficiencies across the group.

• Lead the Team: Manage, mentor, and supervise the daily activities of the Head Office Finance team.
• Financial Reporting: Deliver accurate monthly and annual management accounts alongside insightful financial commentary.
• Budgeting & Cash Flow: Coordinate annual budget processes, manage liquidity, and track departmental variances against company targets.
• Audit & Compliance: Act as the primary contact for external auditors and ensure strict adherence to UK GAAP/IFRS and HMRC regulations.
• Dealership & Site Support: Review monthly dealership P&L accounts, manage high-value bank payments, and resolve automotive accounting queries.
• Risk & Advisory: Document internal financial controls to minimise risk and alert the FD to any irregularities.

Essential:

• Qualifications: Fully qualified ACA, ACCA, or CIMA.
• Experience: 5-8 years of post-qualification experience in a senior accounting role.
• Compliance Knowledge: Robust understanding of UK GAAP, statutory accounting laws, and data protection rules.
• Leadership Skills: Proven experience managing finance personnel and managing diverse senior stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience working within the automotive or dealership sector.
• Familiarity with complex group corporate structures and intercompany recharges.

Founded in 2003 by Michael Smyth and his three sons, David, Peter and John, Swansway has grown from five motor dealerships in Cheshire and the West Midlands to the 20 dealerships we have today. From Birmingham in the South to Carlisle in the North we partner with eleven brands including Audi, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Honda and many more.

We’re expanding our own-brand, Motor Match our used sites, and we don’t stop at dealerships; we operate four Volkswagen Group Trade Part Centres, an Accident Repair Centre, a Group Fleet Sales Centre and an eBay shop re-cycling obsolete parts. All this is supported by our Head Office in Crewe.

But it’s not what we do that makes us the company we are, it’s how we do it; it’s our family heritage that sets us apart, with the Smyth family playing a hand-on role in the day-to-day running of the business; we genuinely care about our customers and our Swansway family and that makes us a great place to work. We live by our caring, honest and proud values which is why our long service boards are brimming with names who’ve been with us five, ten and fifteen years!

Benefits of working for Swansway Group:

• Free on-site parking
• Holidays that increase with length of service
• Your Birthday off
• Company Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance- Death in Service Benefit
• Long service recognition
• Annual flu jab
• Discounts on products and services that extend to your family and friends.
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme and counselling service
• Occupational health services
• Car Benefit Scheme