London Onsite Part-Time Financial Controller (SME)

YRH Finance Team; Greater London; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 62,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site work

Job summary

The Part-Time Finance People in London is seeking an experienced Financial Controller for a self-employed, client-facing role with an SME owner-managed business. This hands-on finance leader will provide strategic insight while ensuring robust controls and accurate reporting, with a requirement to be onsite in London for a minimum of two days per week.

You will partner with the owner and leadership team to improve financial performance, strengthen controls, optimise cash flow, and deliver

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• Proven experience as a Financial Controller.
• Strong understanding of retail finance, including stock management, gross margin analysis, inventory control, and multi-site reporting.
• Experience supporting SME and owner-managed businesses.
• Demonstrable experience producing management information and board reporting.
• Extensive budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management experience.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and process improvement.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple client relationships.
• Available to attend client sites across London for a minimum of two days per week.
• Experience with Xero (experience with Sage and/or QuickBooks would also be advantageous).

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present monthly management accounts and MI packs.
• Produce insightful financial reporting for senior leadership teams and boards.
• Analyse sales, gross margins, stock performance, and profitability across retail operations.
• Develop and monitor KPIs including sales performance, gross margin, stock turn, labor costs, and store profitability.
• Provide commercial recommendations to improve business performance and profitability.
• Lead annual budgeting and financial planning processes.
• Prepare rolling forecasts and reforecasts.
• Develop and maintain detailed cash flow forecasts.
• Support planning through financial modelling and scenario analysis.
• Identify financial risks and commercial opportunities impacting retail performance.
• Partner closely with business owners, directors, and management teams.
• Translate financial information into practical commercial insight.
• Support strategic decision-making including pricing, stock investment, expansion, and profitability initiatives.
• Provide financial leadership to non-finance stakeholders.
• Review and strengthen financial processes and internal controls.
• Ensure robust controls across stock, purchasing, cash handling, and retail operations.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reporting accuracy.
• Implement finance best practice and support finance transformation initiatives.
• Manage, mentor, and develop small finance teams where required.
• Review the work of finance staff and maintain high standards across finance operations.

Skills

Retail finance knowledge

Management reporting

Budgeting & forecasting

Cash flow management

Financial controls

Commercial acumen

Independent working

Client relationship management

On-site availability

Xero experience

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Xero

Sage

QuickBooks

Job description

The Part-Time Finance People in London is seeking an experienced Financial Controller for a self-employed, client-facing role with an SME owner-managed business. This hands-on finance leader will provide strategic insight while ensuring robust controls and accurate reporting, with a requirement to be onsite in London for a minimum of two days per week.

You will partner with the owner and leadership team to improve financial performance, strengthen controls, optimise cash flow, and deliver