Financial Controller

Sigmar Recruitment; Galway; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Port of Galway is seeking a Financial Controller to lead and develop its finance function, reporting to the Board and guiding the organisation's financial strategy.

The role covers financial controls, management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and strategic financial analysis across leasing, car parking, and port operations. A fully qualified accountant with 8+ years' relevant experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• 8+ years' post-qualified experience in a senior finance/financial control environment.
• Strong experience across financial control, management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, and commercial analysis.
• Experience with funding, capital investment, property/leases, and/or development projects highly desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to operate with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working with public-sector bodies, government funding or EU funding programmes would be advantageous.
• Advanced Excel skills, including financial modelling, forecasting, and scenario analysis.
• Strong experience with Sage or comparable accounting systems and payroll processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day financial operations, controls and reporting of the Port.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, Board reporting packs, budgets, forecasts, cash-flow analysis, financial reporting, payroll, and tax compliance.
• Provide financial and commercial oversight across the Port's revenue streams: leasing, car parking, and Port of Galway operations.
• Lead financial analysis, modelling, and investment appraisal to support strategic and operational decisions.
• Support the Port's funding strategy, including government, capital, grant, and EU funding programmes.
• Provide financial oversight of leases, real estate, capital projects, and site redevelopment.
• Support the development and implementation of the Port's Operations Strategy from a financial and commercial perspective.
• Liaise with and represent the Port in financial and commercial matters with Galway City Council, Galway County Council, government bodies, funding agencies, elected representatives, and other external partners.
• Manage the finance team, building a robust and effective finance function.
• Oversee the Port's Sage accounting and payroll systems, continuously improving processes, controls, and reporting.
• Provide financial information and papers to the Board and function as a key partner across the organisation.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Advanced Excel

Financial analysis

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Sage

Payroll systems

Job description

Port of Galway - Financial Controller

Sigmar are proud to partner exclusively with the Port of Galway in helping them secure their new Financial Controller who will lead and develop its finance function and play a key role in the organisation's financial, commercial and development strategy. Reporting directly to the Board of Management, this is a hands-on senior finance position with responsibility for strengthening financial controls, systems and processes while providing high-quality financial insight to support strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day financial operations, controls and reporting of the Port.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, Board reporting packs, budgets, forecasts, cash-flow analysis, financial reporting, payroll, and tax compliance.
• Provide financial and commercial oversight across the Port's three key revenue streams: leasing, car parking, and Port of Galway operations.
• Lead financial analysis, modelling, and investment appraisal to support strategic and operational decisions.
• Support the Port's funding strategy, including government, capital, grant, and EU funding programmes.
• Provide financial oversight of leases, real estate, capital projects, and site redevelopment.
• Support the development and implementation of the Port's Operations Strategy from a financial and commercial perspective.
• Liaise with and represent the Port in financial and commercial matters with Galway City Council, Galway County Council, government bodies, funding agencies, elected representatives, and other external partners.
• Manage the finance team, building a robust and effective finance function.
• Oversee the Port's Sage accounting and payroll systems, continuously improving processes, controls, and reporting.
• Provide financial information and papers to the Board and function as a key partner across the organisation.

Candidate Profile

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• 8+ years' post-qualified experience in a senior finance/financial control environment.
• Strong experience across financial control, management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, and commercial analysis.
• Experience with funding, capital investment, property/leases, and/or development projects highly desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to operate with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working with public-sector bodies, government funding or EU funding programmes would be advantageous.
• Advanced Excel skills, including financial modelling, forecasting, and scenario analysis.
• Strong experience with Sage or comparable accounting systems and payroll processes.