At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial management, produce reports, and drive profitability in a growing business.
- Company: Join a thriving family-owned business with over £20m turnover and 150+ employees.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hands-on role with potential for career growth and modernising financial systems.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team, influence decision-making, and make a real impact on the business.
- Qualifications: CIMA or ACCA/ACA qualified or QBE with SME finance management experience required.
- Other info: Office-based role requiring flexibility and strong communication skills to drive change.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This highly entrepreneurial, family owned business has grown substantially in the last few years and is currently north of £20m turnover. Profitable and operating over five divisions across two sites, supplying materials and services to residential and large, commercial customers, they are an established, cash rich business employing over 150 staff. Their long standing Finance Director is planning to retire at the end of the year and will be going part-time in the next 4-6 months so they are now looking to appoint an experienced Financial Controller with a view to taking over the role and if proven successful, become FD in the future. This is therefore an important appointment for the group, reporting into the CEO and acting as a key member of the senior management team.
The Financial Controller will manage the company finances to drive the profitability and growth of the business and will be expected to play a major role in decision making. Managing a small finance department you will drive greater understanding of costs and margins to improve performance whilst also making sense of complex revenue streams and high volumes of transactions. There is real scope here for someone to make improvements, modernising systems and automating processes.
The key duties of the Financial Controller will be:
- Produce monthly management accounts with commentary
- Develop KPIs and MI pack for the board
- Provide analysis of costs and process efficiency
- Create the annual budget and report variances
- Drive commercial / financial awareness in each department
- Cashflow management, banking and financial forecasting
- Managing the year end with full audit liaison
- Oversee wages, PAYE, NI and HMRC matters
- Manage and develop the transactional accounting team
- Provide advice on equipment and fleet financing options
- Maintain fixed asset register
- Reporting on inter-company trading
As a business they are always looking at commercial opportunities so you can also expect to have to react quickly and offer financial judgement on different business cases that come along. Great communication skills and credibility will be essential as you will be expected to challenge and question the current set up and make recommendations to stakeholders and colleagues that can drive change and improve processes.
Experience of using SAGE would be very useful in this role, particularly exporting data for manipulation in Excel, applicants should also be very comfortable dealing with operational and business management systems.
The ideal candidate for this vacancy must preferably be CIMA or ACCA / ACA qualified or qualified by experience (QBE) with experience of managing the finance function for a growing SME. Office based this will definitely be a hands on role so will require a flexible approach, working as part of a team and taking ownership to get things done during busy periods.
Financial Controller employer: AFR Consulting
Contact Detail:
AFR Consulting Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Controller
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the company's financial landscape. Research their current financial performance, key revenue streams, and any recent changes in their operations. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your understanding of their business.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the industry, especially those who have experience in similar roles or companies. Attend finance-related events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the company culture and expectations for the Financial Controller position.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with financial systems, particularly SAGE and Excel. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've used these tools to improve processes or drive financial performance in previous roles, as this will be crucial for the hands-on nature of the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills and ability to drive change. Think of instances where you've successfully managed a team or implemented new processes that improved efficiency. Highlighting these experiences will demonstrate your readiness to take on the responsibilities of the Financial Controller and eventually the Finance Director role.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Controller
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in financial management, particularly in a growing SME. Emphasise your qualifications (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or QBE) and any specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive profitability and growth.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Discuss how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Financial Controller position, such as managing finances, developing KPIs, and improving processes.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Provide examples in your application of how you've successfully analysed costs and improved process efficiency in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the complexities of the company's finances.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since great communication skills are essential for this role, include instances where you've effectively communicated financial insights to stakeholders or led discussions that resulted in positive changes within your team or organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at AFR Consulting
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your experience with financial management, particularly in a growing SME. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully managed budgets, produced management accounts, or improved financial processes.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As the role involves managing a small finance department, it's crucial to showcase your leadership abilities. Share instances where you've led a team, driven change, or improved performance through effective management.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions related to SAGE and Excel, as well as your understanding of cash flow management and financial forecasting. Brush up on these tools and be ready to explain how you've used them in previous roles.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since great communication skills are essential for this role, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Be ready to discuss how you've effectively communicated financial insights to non-financial stakeholders in the past.