Financial Controller

SCOPE

The Financial Controller is a senior-level responsible for overseeing financial operations, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting, compliance with financial regulations, and the overall financial health of the company. The Financial Controller acts as a bridge between the finance department and executive management, providing insights and guidance on financial matters to support strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting: To ensure the timely and accurate preparation of financial statements. This includes managing the month-end and year-end closing processes, consolidating financial data, balance sheet reconciliation and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations. The Financial Controller will also prepare reports for internal stakeholders and external entities, such as auditors and regulatory bodies.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: The Financial Controller plays a pivotal role in the budgeting and forecasting processes, working closely with department heads and the commercial team to develop budgets that align with the organisation’s strategic goals. The Financial Controller will also monitor performance, analyse variances, and provide forecasts to anticipate future financial trends and challenges.
• Internal Controls and Compliance: Ensuring robust internal controls, design and implement control systems to safeguard the organisation’s assets, prevent fraud, and ensure compliance with financial regulations such as GAAP or IFRS, undertake regular review of the process with the FD and provide guidance to the board on proposed changes.
• Cash Flow Management: Monitor cash flow, manage working capital requirements, and ensure that the company has sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations. Develop, alongside the commercial team, strategies to optimise cash flow and reduce financial risks.

Essential Skills

• Analytical Skills: Interpret complex financial data and provide actionable insights, identify trends, assess financial performance, and make recommendations to improve efficiency and profitability. Prepare accurate and timely financial reports including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
• Leadership and Communication: Act as the deputy to the FD, providing direct advice and guidance to the Directors/Managers and to the Board as required by the FD or other leadership, and as required external parties such as funders, investors, regulatory bodies and external auditors. Communicate financial performance, risks, and opportunities clearly and effectively, ensuring that stakeholders are informed and engaged. Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Technical Proficiency: A deep understanding of accounting principles, financial software, and regulatory requirements, be proficient in using financial management systems and tools to streamline processes and enhance reporting accuracy.
• Strategic Thinking: Aligning financial management with the organisation’s long-term objectives, evaluating financial risks and opportunities, supporting strategic initiatives, and contributing to the development of business strategies.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, accounting.
• As a minimum we require one of the following accreditations (Fully Qualified or Part Qualified): Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Management Accountant (CMA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Technical Skills

• Financial Reporting: Proficiency in preparing and analysing financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Ability to develop, manage, and analyse budgets and financial forecasts to guide strategic decision making.
• Accounting Software: Expertise in using accounting software preferably construction focused such as 4PS/Business Central or Coins or as a minimum platform such as SAP, Oracle, MS Dynamics, or Sage for financial management and reporting.
• Data Analysis: Strong analytical skills to interpret financial data, identify trends, and provide actionable insights.
• Project Accounting: Proficiency in Job Costing ability to prepare reliable cost to complete data and align with income.

Regulatory Knowledge

• A comprehensive understanding of financial regulations and compliance including UK GAAP and IFRS, tax regulations, and audit processes.

Soft Skills

• Leadership and Management: Ability to lead and manage finance teams, providing guidance and support to achieve organisational goals.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to convey financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying financial issues and developing effective solutions to address them.
• Diligence: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy in financial reporting and compliance.

Experience

• Industry Experience: A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a contractor or engineering consultant, and full understanding of operational requirement in the construction industry including the specific risks which are present in the transaction cycle.
• People Responsibility: A history of managing and developing high performing teams fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.