Financial Controller

T.E. Laboratories (TelLab); Tullow; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension (3% of salary)

EV-chargers on site

Further education support

Secure & free car parking

Job summary

TelLab, part of the Celnor Group, seeks an experienced Financial Controller to lead day‑to‑day finance operations, build robust accounting processes, and deliver precise financial reporting while steering a small team for scalable growth.

The role combines strategic oversight with hands‑on control, monthly close, cash forecasting, and compliance. You will drive process automation, risk controls, and cost management in a fast‑paced SME environment.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or equivalent.
• 3 to 6 years of post‑qualification experience, ideally with a background in an auditing firm followed by a commercial role.
• Previous experience in a SME environment reporting to a global head office.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets. Crystal reports and sharperlight experience an advantage.
• Detail‑obsessed with numbers, reconciliations and audit trails.
• Execution focus: practical problem‑solver who improves workflows over maintaining legacy processes.
• Clear communications: convey financial rules to non-financial managers.
• Continual Improvement: run department using LEAN principles and collaborate on LEAN projects.
• Embrace and manage change as a result of LEAN methodology.

Responsibilities

• Close Management: Own and standardise month‑end close; deliver accounts within 6 working days.
• Balance Sheet Control: Monthly reconciliations of balance sheet accounts, intercompany and FX.
• Variance Analysis: Deep-dive analysis Actuals vs Budget for efficiencies or overruns.
• Group consolidations: prepare accounts including deferred income, Goodwill and deferred revenue per FRS102.
• System Optimization: Maintain SAP‑B1 ERP to automate data entry.
• Control Frameworks: Enforce strict internal financial controls to mitigate risk.
• Project Accounting: Track time billing, project utilisation, or deferred revenue.
• Cash Management: Weekly 13‑week cash flow forecasts for CFO/CEO.
• Credit Control: Manage DSO and order‑to‑cash processes.
• Vendor Management: Oversee accounts payable with supply chain.
• Audit Lead: Point of contact for external auditors and year‑end file preparation.
• Tax Filing: VAT, corporate tax, payroll compliance; present tax to group accounting.
• Statutory Accounts: Prepare statutory financial statements.

Skills

Financial reporting

Excel/Sheets

Communication

Problem solving

LEAN/CI

Team leadership

Attention to detail

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CPA

3–6 years post-qualification experience

Tools

SAP-B1

Job description

Department: Senior Management Team

Location: Carlow

Description

Financial Controller

TelLab

Who we are

T.E. Laboratories (TelLab) is an Irish company that blends science and innovation to create practical solutions for everyday industries. Testing water and oil to ensure businesses and domestic customers stay safe and efficient, while also manufacturing tailor‑made chemicals for a range of clients from Hospitals to Schools to Pharmaceutical Organisations. Our team is focused on quality, creativity, and making a real‑world impact.

Part of the Celnor Group

Celnor Group is a UK‑based environmental services group operating across the Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) landscape. With a growing portfolio of specialist businesses, Celnor provides essential services that protect people, property and the environment.

While each business retains its own identity, culture and technical specialism, all are supported by a central group function that invests in people, systems and long‑term sustainable growth.

Job details

You will own the day‑to‑day running of the finance function. You will build and maintain robust accounting processes, deliver precise financial reporting, and manage cash flow. This is a high‑impact, hands‑on role requiring a technically strong accountant who can manage a small team while keeping the business structurally sound for scaling.

This is a strategic role suited to someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and enjoys taking ownership, solving problems and making a tangible impact.

What you will do

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Close Management: Own, accelerate, and standardise the month‑end close process to deliver management accounts within 6 working days. Upload reports to Celnor Group central finance in London.
• Balance Sheet Control: Perform rigorous monthly reconciliations of all balance sheet accounts, intercompany balances, and foreign currency accounts.
• Variance Analysis: Provide deep‑dive variance analysis (Actuals vs. Budget) to highlight operational efficiencies or cost overruns.
• Understanding of group consolidations and prepare accounts to include deferred considerations, Goodwill, accrued income and deferred revenue as per FRS102

Process Automation & Systems

• System Optimization: Maintain and optimise the ERP architecture ( SAP‑B1) to automate manual data entry.
• Control Frameworks: Design and enforce strict internal financial controls to mitigate risk, fraud, and revenue leakage.
• Project Accounting: Ensure precise tracking of time billing, project utilisation, or deferred revenue streams.

Working Capital

• Cash Management: Produce weekly rolling 13‑week cash flow forecasts for the CFO and CEO and Group finance team.
• Credit Control: Oversee the order‑to‑cash process, directly managing efforts to reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).
• Vendor Management: Supervise the accounts payable ledger and work closely with supply chain team.

Compliance, Tax & Audit

• Audit Lead: Act as the primary point of contact for external auditors, preparing the year‑end audit file to ensure zero material adjustments.
• Tax Filing: Ensure timely and accurate filing tax returns, including VAT, corporate tax, and payroll compliance. Prepare and present tax to group accounting team.
• Statutory Accounts: Prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with relevant accounting standards.

Who you are

You are an experienced and motivated professional who brings a practical, solutions‑focused mindset. You will ideally have:

• Professional Qualification: Fully qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or equivalent.
• Post‑Qualified Experience: 3 to 6 years of post‑qualification experience, ideally with a background in an auditing firm followed by a commercial role.
• Scale Exposure: Previous experience in a SME environment reporting to a global head office.
• System Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets. Crystal reports and sharperlight experience an advantage.
• Detail‑Obsessed: A natural perfectionist regarding numbers, reconciliations, and audit trails.
• Execution Focus: A practical problem‑solver who thrives on building efficient workflows rather than just managing legacy ones.
• Clear communications: Ability to communicate financial rules clearly to non‑financial operational managers.
• Continual Improvement‑ Run department using LEAN manufacturing principles and work on LEAN projects in collaboration with other departments.
• Embrace and manage change as a result of LEAN methodology.

Join us

You’ll be joining a business where your contribution matters and where professionalism, integrity and teamwork are genuinely valued. As part of the wider Celnor Group, you’ll benefit from group‑wide investment, shared expertise and opportunities to develop your career as the organisation continues to grow.

Benefits

• Additional Annual Leave days with continued service.
• Company pension of 3% of salary.
• Career Progression & Growth.
• Christmas Voucher
• Secure & Free Car Parking.
• EV-Chargers on site.
• Further Education Support.

Important information

Celnor Group and its businesses manage recruitment directly. We do not require agency support for this role and will only engage with recruitment partners from our preferred supplier list where necessary.

We may use technology, including AI‑enabled tools, to support parts of the recruitment process. AI is not used for candidate screening, scoring or hiring decisions. All hiring decisions are made by people, for people. Our recruitment systems are ISO 42001 accredited, reflecting our commitment to ethical, transparent and responsible use of technology.