Senior Finance Manager

The-Pilot-Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The-Pilot-Group is seeking a senior Finance Manager to lead the Group Finance team in Manchester. You will own month-end close, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management and controls, partnering with the FD and senior leaders to drive commercial performance.

This hands-on role requires strong technical finance skills, ERP implementation experience and the ability to develop a small team while delivering timely, accurate financial information and insights for strategic

Qualifications

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification with post-qualification experience.
• Strong experience in financial reporting, month-end close, budgeting and controls.
• Ability to partner with non-finance colleagues and senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading and developing a small finance team.
• Familiarity with multi-currency environments and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end month-end close and ensure timely financial reporting.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, KPI analysis and commentary for senior stakeholders.
• Lead the annual budgeting and regular forecasting processes.
• Perform variance analysis, highlighting risks and opportunities.
• Support commercial decision‑making through revenue, margin and working capital analysis.
• Maintain strong financial controls, including reconciliations and key processes.
• Manage daily cash across multi‑currency accounts and oversee FX/payments.
• Oversee VAT and tax compliance and support external audit coordination.
• Lead ERP implementation workstream and drive process improvements.
• Develop and mentor a small finance team and partner with the Group FD and leadership.

Skills

Financial analysis

Management reporting

Month-end close

Budgeting & forecasting

Commercial partnering

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Cash flow & working capital

Advanced Excel

Multi-currency / international

ERP systems

Education

ACA, ACCA or CIMA

Tools

Sage

Business Central

ERP implementation tools

Job description

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and commercially focused Senior Finance Manager to join the Group Finance team.

Reporting to the Group Finance Director, you will lead a small team and take ownership of the month-end close, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management and financial controls.

This is a hands‑on role combining strong technical finance skills with commercial business partnering. You will work closely with the FD and senior management team to provide accurate financial information, insight and challenge to support business performance and decision‑making.

You will also play a key role in improving finance processes and systems, including the implementation of the Group's new ERP system.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & FP&A

• Own the end-to-end month-end close and ensure accurate, timely financial reporting.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, KPI reporting, analysis and meaningful commentary for senior stakeholders.
• Lead the annual budgeting and regular forecasting processes.
• Variance analysis against budget and prior year, highlight risks and opportunities.
• Support commercial decision-making through analysis of revenue, margins, costs, profitability and working capital.
• Maintain strong financial controls, including journals, balance sheet reconciliations and review of key accounting processes.

Cash, Working Capital & Compliance

• Manage daily cash requirements across the Group's multi‑currency bank accounts.
• Manage FX transactions and review/approve payments in line with Group controls.
• Oversee VAT and other routine tax compliance requirements.
• Lead/co‑ordinate the annual audit and support statutory and international reporting requirements.
• Own the intercompany reconciliation process and ensure balances are accurate and resolved promptly.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Lead the Finance workstream in the implementation of the Group's ERP system.
• Identify opportunities to improve, automate and streamline finance processes
• Develop and maintain appropriate finance procedures and controls.

Leadership & Business Partnering

• Lead, mentor and develop a small finance team, ensuring effective workload management and delivery of key deadlines.
• Finance business partner to non-finance colleagues and provide constructive challenge.
• Work closely with the Group FD and senior management team to improve financial and commercial performance.
• Promote a culture of accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement across Finance.

About You

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with relevant post-qualification experience.
• Strong experience in financial reporting, management accounts, month-end and financial controls.
• Lead the annual external audit process, coordinating the preparation of all required schedules
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and FP&A experience.
• Commercial mind with ability to analyse performance, provide insight and challenge.
• Proven experience of business partnering with non-financial colleagues and senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing and developing a small finance team.
• Strong understanding of cash flow, working capital and balance sheet management.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience working in a multi‑currency or international environment advantageous.
• ERP implementation or finance systems experience would be advantageous.
• Sage experience preferred; Business Central experience advantageous.

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate and timely month-end reporting and management accounts.
• Reliable budgets, forecasts and cash flow reporting.
• Strong financial controls and balance sheet management.
• Clear and commercially useful insight provided to the business.
• Successful delivery of the Finance ERP implementation.
• A capable, motivated and high‑performing Finance team