Financial Controller (Interim - 6 Months)

BDTP is seeking an experienced Interim Financial Controller to provide strong day-to-day financial control, reporting discipline and operational grip during a period of significant finance transformation. This is a high-impact role, responsible for ensuring a reliable month-end and year-end close, robust balance sheet control, audit-ready evidence, effective AP/AR oversight, and accurate cashflow support. You will bring structure, pace and control to a complex environment while strengthening governance, systems and processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Control & Reporting
  • Lead the month-end and year-end close, ensuring clear timetables, ownership, review and sign-off.
  • Ensure the trial balance is complete, accurate and fully supported by reconciliations.
  • Maintain strong balance sheet control across AP, AR, payroll, bank, VAT, accruals, prepayments, intercompany and control accounts.
  • Support the production and review of monthly management accounts, including variance analysis, risk identification and corrective actions.
• AP, AR & Cashflow
  • Oversee AP and AR processes including aged balance reviews, supplier reconciliations, provisions, write-offs and ledger cleansing.
  • Ensure all write-offs are appropriately evidenced, VAT-reviewed, approved and correctly accounted for.
  • Support short- and medium-term cashflow forecasting through accurate AP, AR, payroll and contract data.
• Audit, Statutory & Governance
  • Support year-end statutory reporting and external audit delivery.
  • Produce and maintain audit-ready working papers and respond to auditor queries.
  • Review revenue recognition, cut-off, accruals, deferred income and debtor recoverability.
  • Escalate key financial risks, control weaknesses and unresolved issues to senior finance leadership.
• Commercial & Transformation Support
  • Support contract and project financial management, including income, costs, margins, commitments and profitability tracking.
  • Work closely with finance, procurement and operational teams to strengthen PO controls, approvals, invoice matching and spend governance.
  • Contribute to finance transformation initiatives, improving systems, processes, reporting, data quality and SOPs.
• Leadership
  • Lead a transaction team of 5 and manage 3 business partners.
  • Set clear deadlines, ownership and accountability, supporting and developing team members.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Strong month-end and year-end close experience, including ledger close, reconciliations and trial balance review.
• Proven balance sheet control across AP, AR, payroll, bank, VAT, accruals, prepayments and intercompany.
• Experience supporting statutory audit with audit-ready working papers.
• Solid AP and AR oversight including aged balances, provisions, write-offs and recovery.
• Good understanding of cashflow, working capital, contract finance and management accounts.
• Experience operating in a change, turnaround or finance transformation environment.
• Confident systems user (Sage 200 or similar desirable).
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Sound governance awareness, including delegated authority and public-sector or LATCo accountability.

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills.
• Excellent judgement around revenue recognition, cut-off, accruals and provisions.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to challenge weak controls and poor evidence constructively.
• Collaborative and solutions-focused approach.

Desirable

• Public sector, LATCo or regulated environment experience.
• Experience improving or implementing finance systems.
• Exposure to project or contract-based accounting.
• ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualification.

Our Values

All employees are expected to lead with integrity, uphold the highest standards of conduct, and demonstrate accountability across legal, operational, financial and procurement responsibilities. This includes adherence to safeguarding, GDPR, information security, health & safety, the Nolan Principles, and a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Interested? If you are an experienced Financial Controller who thrives in fast-paced, change-led environments and can make an immediate impact, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply with your availability and interim day-rate expectations.