Group Financial Controller in Sunderland

Blair West are delighted to be supporting LSL Property Services Group plc with the appointment of a Group Financial Controller. LSL is a Small Cap listed business based in Newcastle, with this role at the heart of the Group Finance function, reporting directly to the Group’s new CFO.

The opportunity:

• Financial Reporting & Statutory Compliance
  • Lead preparation of monthly, half-year and full-year Group financial statements in accordance with IFRS and UK company law.
  • Ensure consistent application of accounting policies and technical accounting judgements across the Group.
  • Maintain high standards of accuracy, timeliness and quality in all external financial reporting.
• Group Close, Audit & Listed Governance
  • Own the Group financial close process and manage the external audit.
  • Drive efficient close timetables and continuous improvement in reporting processes.
  • Ensure compliance with Small Cap listed reporting obligations and governance requirements.
  • Act as a key liaison with auditors, advisors and regulators.
• Financial Control & Risk Management
  • Maintain a robust financial control framework including SOX or SOX-like controls.
  • Ensure strong balance sheet controls, reconciliations and review processes.
  • Identify and mitigate financial reporting and control risks across the Group.
• Tax, Treasury & Balance Sheet Oversight
  • Oversee Group tax, treasury and balance sheet management.
  • Manage cash flow forecasting, liquidity and banking relationships.
  • Ensure effective working capital management and funding discipline.
• Leadership, Board & Committee Support
  • Lead and develop the finance team and support Board and Audit Committee reporting.
  • Build a high-performing finance function with clear accountability and development pathways.
  • Provide clear, insightful financial analysis to senior stakeholders.
• Finance Systems
  • Drive finance systems improvements and ERP implementations.
  • Ensure finance systems support strong controls, efficient reporting and future growth.
  • Champion automation and continuous improvement across the finance function.

You’ll be the ideal candidate for this position if you have:

• An ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualification with significant post-qualification experience.
• Strong technical expertise in IFRS and Group financial reporting within a listed or complex environment.
• Proven experience leading audits and engaging with Board and Audit Committee stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement strong financial control frameworks.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate financial data into actionable insight.
• Experience overseeing tax, treasury, and balance sheet management at Group level.
• A track record of leading and developing high-performing finance teams.
• Experience with ERP implementations or finance systems evolution (desirable).
• Exposure to Small Cap or regulated environments, ideally within financial services (desirable).

The benefits included with this opportunity:

• Highly competitive salary & benefits package.
• Direct exposure to Executive Committee, Board, and Audit Committee stakeholders.
• Leadership role with significant strategic influence across the organisation.
• Hybrid working model offering flexibility.

Our commitment

Blair West is an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and inclusion at every stage of the recruitment process. We are committed to fairness, equality, and ongoing diversity training for our team to give our candidates and clients a feeling of belonging during their experience with us. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during their experience with us, please speak to their consultant.