Assistant Financial Controller in Rickmansworth

Hunterlodge is a UK-based, full-service advertising agency with a fast-growing and diverse client portfolio. Following a series of recent client wins, we are strengthening our finance capability and are seeking an experienced Assistant Financial Controller to support the agency’s continued growth, governance, and strategic decision-making. This is a senior, hands-on role requiring strong technical expertise, commercial acumen, and the confidence to partner closely with leadership across the business.

You will be responsible for overseeing the agency’s financial operations, ensuring robust controls, accurate reporting, and clear financial insight to support decision-making at executive and board level. You will work closely with the Finance Director, CEO, and senior leadership team, playing a key role in financial governance, forecasting, and continuous improvement of financial systems and processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Operations & Reporting
  • Oversee all general ledger activity, ensuring accurate recording and reconciliation of transactions including billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll journals, and accruals, in line with UK GAAP.
  • Prepare and coordinate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closes, producing timely and accurate management accounts and statutory financial statements.
  • Assist in managing cashflow including bank reconciliations, debt management and ensuring sufficient funds are available for operations.
  • Deliver in-depth financial analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for cost control or revenue optimisation.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for external auditors, managing the audit process end-to-end.
  • Ensure strong internal controls and compliance with statutory, regulatory, and tax obligations.
  • Identify and mitigate financial risks, working closely with senior leadership to develop and monitor risk mitigation plans.
• Strategy & Business Partnering
  • Provide clear, actionable financial insight and recommendations to the Finance Director, CEO, and Board.
  • Support the annual budgeting process and rolling forecasts, monitoring performance against budget and reporting variances to department leads.
  • Partner with departments including Sales, Operations, Creative, and Content to embed financial discipline into operational planning and performance tracking.
  • Drive continuous improvement in financial processes and systems, including the evaluation and implementation of new finance software where appropriate.
  • Prepare and process invoices and staff expenses against approved purchase orders.
  • Liaise with suppliers to resolve invoice queries and reconcile supplier statements.
  • Maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and client finance teams.
  • Verify purchase orders and authorisation controls.
  • Monitor and track expenditure against budgets and HMRC guidelines.
  • Reconcile work-in-progress (WIP).
  • Prepare and reconcile credit card statements against media spend and purchase orders.
  • Maintain the purchase ledger and support supplier payments and reconciliations.
  • Maintain and update Environmental Management System (EMS) records in line with ISO 14001 requirements.
  • Monitor and update environmental records and the legal register.
  • Collect and track sustainability data including waste, travel, and utilities.
  • Support carbon emissions reporting and scope definition.
  • Assist with internal and external ISO 14001 audits, including evidence gathering and document control.
  • Coordinate environmental compliance documentation and audit readiness.

Experience

• Significant experience in finance and management is essential, typically a minimum of five years in a senior accounting role, with a clear progression from an accounting or audit background.

Technical Skills

• Exceptional technical accounting knowledge, strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, and a high level of proficiency in financial software and Microsoft Excel are required.

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills are critical. The role requires the ability to act as a trusted business partner and to present complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders and senior management.

Qualifications

• A relevant degree, such as Accounting, Mathematics, or Business, is expected, alongside a professional accounting qualification from a recognised body, including CIMA, ACCA, or ICAEW.
• Additional certifications or professional qualifications are advantageous, for example CIMA, AAT, or ACCA.

Location: London, England, United Kingdom