Finance Manager | Series B Creative Agency | Manchester (Hybrid)

Finance Manager | Series B Creative Design Agency | Manchester (Hybrid)

Harmonic are delighted to be partnering with an extremely fast-growth, Series B VC-backed creative design agency, in the search for a Finance Manager to support during this next growth phase. This is a rare, high-visibility opportunity for a hands-on, commercially-minded finance professional to become the face of finance in a business scaling at real pace, with a clear runway to grow into a Head of Finance remit as the company heads towards exit.

The Business:

This innovative creative studio specialises in transforming workplaces, public spaces and branded environments through the integration of art, environmental graphics, storytelling and experiential design. Working with a diverse portfolio of global clients, the business delivers end-to-end creative solutions, from concept development and strategy through to design, production and installation. Its multidisciplinary team combines creativity with technical expertise to create engaging spaces that strengthen culture, enhance brand identity and foster meaningful human connection.

With an established international presence and a collaborative, people-first culture, the organisation is recognised for delivering high-quality, design-led projects across commercial, cultural and public sectors. With an office in New York that is scaling just as fast as in London, our client have tapped into a real niche seeing them grow year on year, with turnover at circa £10 million, projected to reach for £20m for year after. With headcount at 30-70 in the space of a year, there is also still a tight knit, creative culture in place.

This is a business firmly in build mode – high energy, fast-moving, and on a defined journey towards a potential exit over the next 3-5 years. There is also already a strong international element to the business, with further expansion across Europe anticipated over the next 12 months.

The Role:

Reporting into a strong Finance Director, the Finance Manager will take full end-to-end ownership of the day-to-day finance function. This is a genuinely broad, hands-on role, owning the numbers, running a clean and timely month-end, and acting as the internal and external face of finance across the business.

Around 50% of the role sits in core accounting and reporting and the full end-to-end management accounts, with the FD also keen to hand over responsibility for forecasting, business partnering and investor reporting. For a candidate hungry to build out their FP&A and business partnering experience, this is a rare chance to learn directly from an experienced FD and grow into a genuinely strategic remit.

This is an AI-forward finance team, suiting candidates that are comfortable handling data, curious about smarter ways of working, and happy to get their hands dirty in the detail (roughly a day a week) while operating at a senior level the rest of the time.

Main Duties:

• Take full end-to-end ownership of the day-to-day finance function
• Own the month-end close process
• Run client finance and invoicing, VAT and the production of accurate, timely management accounts
• Business partner with internal teams, providing clear numbers, insight and support to non-finance stakeholders
• Manage and oversee the offshore (India-based) transactional finance team, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Over time, take on forecasting, finance business partnering and investor reporting
• Continue to develop the team's AI-enabled reporting and processes

What we need to see (essential):

• Fully qualified (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable owning the detail and not above rolling up your sleeves
• A fast learner who is coachable, high energy and genuinely strong on data and metrics

What we'd like to see (bonus):

• Experience gained within a VC-backed, high-growth or scaling business
• Experience within creative, agency, social commerce or adjacent sectors

Location: Central Manchester (3 days in office)

At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to race, religion, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation.

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