Senior Finance Lead / Financial Controller

Grosvenor Talent Ltd; Telford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Grosvenor Talent Ltd is seeking a Financial Controller / Senior Finance Lead for a growing specialist contracting and manufacturing business. You will own the finance function, lead a small team, and partner with the leadership team on strategic finance and operational improvements.

This hands-on role combines financial control with shaping strategy, implementing robust processes, and ensuring VAT, CIS, and payroll governance.

Qualifications

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA fully qualified.
• 5+ years senior finance experience in contracting, construction, or manufacturing.
• Deep expertise in project-based accounting (WIP) and CIS.
• Leadership experience translating financial data for non-finance stakeholders.
• Ambitious, meticulous, proactive with a hands-on SME mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance team and scale staff.
• Own month-end process and management accounts.
• Manage WIP, accruals, project tracking, CIS compliance.
• Partner with execs on margins and supplier negotiations.
• Optimize financial systems (SAGE 50) and workflows.
• Oversee VAT, bank reconciliations, cash flow, payroll governance.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Analysis

Strategic Planning

Communication

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA fully qualified

Tools

SAGE 50

Excel

Job description

Job Title: Financial Controller / Senior Finance Lead

Sector: Specialist Contracting & Manufacturing

Position: Full-time

About the Business

An award-winning, market-leading specialist contracting and manufacturing business scaling toward a £20m+ turnover is looking for a Financial Controller / Senior Finance Lead to take total ownership of their finance function. Renowned for high standards, a positive team culture, and strong commercial growth, this business offers a high-impact role within its core Leadership Team.

The Role

This dual-focused position acts as both a strategic commercial co-pilot to the leadership team and the hands-on technical anchor for daily and month-end financial operations. You will move beyond standard reporting to shape financial strategy, enforce robust internal controls, and build the structural efficiency required to support scaling operations. Would suit a No2 at a larger business, wanting to step into a No 1 role.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Scaling: Take full accountability for the finance team, mentoring and upscaling staff to support ongoing growth.
• Financial Reporting & Accounts: Own the month-end process, producing accurate management accounts (P&L, balance sheets, cash flow analysis) and insightful variance reporting for the Board.
• Project & Contract Accounting: Manage WIP (Work in Progress), accruals, multi-stage project tracking, and CIS compliance across complex contracts.
• Commercial Controls: Partner with executive leaders to evaluate project margins, support supplier negotiations, and maintain rigorous financial controls.
• Systems Innovation: Continuously optimize financial systems (SAGE 50) and operational workflows.
• Compliance & Cash Flow: Oversee VAT (including reverse charge VAT), daily bank reconciliations, cash flow positioning, and payroll governance.

Candidate Profile

• Professional Qualification: ACA, ACCA, or CIMA fully qualified.
• Sector Background: 5+ years of senior finance experience within Contracting, Construction, or Manufacturing environment.
• Technical Mastery: Deep expertise in project-based accounting (WIP), CIS regulations, reverse charge VAT, and SAGE 50 (or equivalent systems).
• Leadership & Communication: Proven experience building teams and translating complex financial data into actionable strategy for non-finance stakeholders.
• Mindset: Ambitious, meticulous, and proactive with a "roll up your sleeves" approach suited to a fast-paced SME.

Grosvenor Talent is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.We are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee is treated less favourably on the basis of a protected characteristic as defined under the Equality Act 2010.If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you. Grosvenor Talent operates as both an Employment Agency and Employment Business in accordance with applicable legislation.