Group Financial Controller in England

Group Financial Controller
Hours:
Full-time, 40 hours per week
Contract:
Permanent
Salary:
£55,000 – £90,000 per annum (including bonus)
Location:
London, Fulham (on site 4 days per week)
Our client, Ardesia Aesthetics Ltd, are an investor-backed medical aesthetics roll-up platform in the UK, founded by a former Goldman Sachs Vice President and a former BCG Principal.
Ardesia Aesthetics are acquiring and growing premium clinics across the UK using a multi-entity structure.
Their current clinics are in London and Oxfordshire, with several additional acquisitions in progress and expected to complete in Q******.
The role
Ardesia Aesthetics are hiring their first Group Financial Controller to establish and lead the finance function, building a scalable finance platform from the ground up.
This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage and shape the finance function from day one.
The role is fully hands-on — you will be the first dedicated finance hire and will own day-to-day financial control and reporting, liaising with managers at each clinic.
You will work directly with the founders and prepare materials for the Board and the investors.
At this stage, this is a delivery-focused role, not a team-management position.
Key duties and responsibilities
Lead end-to-end financial control across the group (parent company and individual clinics).
Develop and implement a consistent chart of accounts, accounting policies, and reporting templates.
Maintain the bookkeeping in Xero, ensuring accuracy and consistency across entities.
Deliver monthly management accounts and year-end statutory accounts.
Prepare and submit VAT returns (including management of partial VAT).
Support M&A (e.g. financial modelling & financial due diligence) and post-acquisition integration.
Create budgets and financial models.
Monitor cash flow and develop forecasting and treasury management processes.
Prepare Board, investor reporting, and fundraising / financing materials.
Person specification
ACA or ACCA qualified, with proven experience as a Financial Controller or in a finance role with responsibility for financial reporting.
Big 4 or other leading accountancy firm-trained (audit background), with 2–4 years\’ industry experience post-qualification.
Proven experience owning the full accounting cycle — month-end close and management accounts, statutory (year-end) accounts, VAT returns, and audit coordination.
Strong technical accounting and consolidation skills.
Comfortable being hands-on — happy to prepare accounts, reconcile, and improve processes.
Confident using Xero, Excel, and management-reporting tools.
Experience with partial VAT exemption (ideally in a healthcare, medical, or mixed-supply environment).
Experience in one or more of the following would be an advantage:
Exposure to investor-backed environments (VC, PE, or family office), including Board and investor reporting;
Building a finance function or core finance processes from scratch in a scaling business;
Working in a multi-site, operationally complex business (e.g. retail, clinics, hospitality) and/or a multi-entity group structure.
Proactive, solutions-oriented, and interested in building structure in a growing business.
Ardesia Aesthetics offers in return
Opportunity to shape the finance function of a growing, investor-backed group from the ground up.
Hands-on exposure to M&A in a fast-paced roll-up.
Significant scope for career progression as the group scales.
Auto enrolment pension scheme.
28 days holiday (including