At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial control and operations for a rapidly growing multi-entity group.
- Company: High-growth, private equity-backed professional services business in Manchester.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonus, long-term incentives, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor a growing finance team and drive process improvements.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the financial future of an ambitious company.
- Qualifications: ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified with strong technical accounting expertise.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 100000 € per year.
We are currently partnering with a high-growth, private equity-backed professional services business based in Manchester that is executing an ambitious buy-and-build strategy. Following significant investment, the business is scaling rapidly through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, creating a complex, multi-entity group with strong market momentum.
As part of this journey, they are looking to appoint a technically strong Group Financial Controller to take ownership of finance, establish best-in-class financial control, and support the integration of newly acquired businesses.
The Role
Reporting directly to the CFO, you will be responsible for leading the Group’s financial control environment and core finance operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and scalability as the business grows. You will operate as a hands-on finance leader, balancing day-to-day delivery with ongoing process improvement and integration activity.
Key Responsibilities
- Ownership of the Group’s monthly close process, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of management accounts
- Lead the preparation of consolidated financial statements across a growing multi-entity structure
- Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards (IFRS / UK GAAP) and regulatory requirements
- Manage the year-end audit process and act as the key point of contact for external auditors
- Maintain a robust financial control environment, ensuring balance sheet integrity and high-quality reconciliations
- Oversee day-to-day finance operations including AP, AR, payroll, and general ledger
- Drive consistency of processes, controls, and policies across the Group
- Continuously improve reporting timelines, accuracy, and efficiency
- Support the integration of acquired businesses, including onboarding, process alignment, and embedding controls
- Partner with the CFO on acquisition accounting and post-deal activities
- Standardise accounting policies and reporting across newly acquired and existing entities
- Lead the optimisation and development of finance systems (ERP and reporting tools)
- Drive automation and process improvements to support scale
- Improve data quality and enhance reporting capability to support decision-making
- Lead, mentor, and develop a growing finance team, fostering a high-performance and control-focused culture
Qualifications & Experience
- ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualified (or equivalent)
- Strong technical accounting expertise (IFRS / UK GAAP)
- Proven experience managing group consolidations in a multi-entity environment
- Currently operating at Financial Controller
- Experience within a high-growth or private equity-backed environment is highly desirable
- Exposure to M&A and post-acquisition integration is advantageous
- Background in professional services or similar sectors is beneficial
Salary & Benefits
- £90,000 – £100,000 base salary
- 10% performance-related bonus
- Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
- Standard pension
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
Financial Controller in Bradford employer: Forge Talent
Join a dynamic and rapidly expanding private equity-backed professional services firm in Manchester, where you will play a pivotal role as a Group Financial Controller. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, the company fosters a collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and continuous improvement, offering competitive benefits including a performance-related bonus and a Long-Term Incentive Plan. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a talented finance team while contributing to the integration of newly acquired businesses in a thriving environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Controller in Bradford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those in private equity or professional services. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical accounting knowledge. Be ready to discuss IFRS and UK GAAP, as well as your experience with group consolidations. We want you to shine when it comes to showcasing your expertise!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to highlight your experience with M&A and post-acquisition integration during interviews. This is a hot topic for companies scaling rapidly, and showing you’ve got the chops in this area can set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged in their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Controller in Bradford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Financial Controller. Highlight your experience with group consolidations and any work you've done in high-growth or private equity-backed environments. We want to see how your skills align with our ambitious goals!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led finance operations and improved processes in previous roles. Let us know how you can contribute to our journey!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Since we're looking for someone with strong technical accounting expertise, make sure to mention your qualifications like ACA, ACCA, or CIMA. Also, highlight your familiarity with IFRS and UK GAAP, as well as any experience with ERP systems. We love a numbers whiz!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows us you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forge Talent
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Financial Controller, you’ll need to demonstrate your technical accounting expertise. Brush up on IFRS and UK GAAP standards, and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in previous roles. Prepare examples of how you've managed group consolidations and ensured compliance in a multi-entity environment.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves leading a growing finance team, so be prepared to talk about your leadership style. Think of specific instances where you've mentored team members or driven a high-performance culture. Highlight your experience in managing day-to-day finance operations and how you’ve improved processes in the past.
✨Be Ready for Integration Talk
Since the company is focused on acquisitions, it’s crucial to discuss your experience with M&A and post-acquisition integration. Prepare to share how you've supported the onboarding of new businesses and aligned processes across different entities. This will show that you understand the complexities involved in scaling a business.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
The role requires continuous improvement of reporting timelines and accuracy. Be ready to discuss challenges you've faced in previous positions and how you overcame them. Share examples of how you've driven automation and process improvements, as this will highlight your proactive approach to enhancing financial operations.
