Senior Finance Manager

Pilot Group Limited; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilot Group Limited is seeking an experienced Senior Finance Manager to lead the Group Finance team in the UK. You will own month-end close, produce management accounts and KPI reporting, manage budgeting and forecasting, and drive financial controls across the business.

You will partner with the FD and senior management to provide insight, challenge and strategic financial input, while leading ERP implementation and process improvements.

Qualifications

• Qualified with ACA, ACCA or CIMA and relevant post-qualification experience.
• Experience in financial reporting, management accounts, month-end and controls.
• Experience leading external audit coordination.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end month-end close and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, KPI reporting and commentary.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Analyze variance vs budget and prior year; highlight risks and opportunities.
• Support decision-making with revenue, margins, costs and working capital analysis.
• Maintain robust financial controls and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Lead ERP system implementation and process improvements.
• Develop and mentor a small finance team and partner with non-finance stakeholders.

Skills

Financial reporting

Management accounts

Month-end close

Budgeting & forecasting

FP&A

Commercial partnering

Cash management

Intercompany reconciliations

Financial controls

Excel

ERP systems

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Sage

Business Central

ERP implementation

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