Financial Controller in Colchester

About us… Ingleton Wood is a value-led, people focussed practice providing clients with inspirational and practical design solutions; we exist to improve the communities in which we all live and work. Originally established in 1935, we are a dynamic multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy, providing a wide range of services across many industry sectors, including commercial, education, defence, residential and more. We develop long term relationships with clients, adding value at every stage of development. We are one of a few medium-sized consultancies offering integrated design and technical expertise. We have a nationwide presence with offices located across the UK. We plan to open further sites in the future to develop our national service.

Life At Ingleton Wood… is busy but great fun, we work hard, and we play hard. There is a huge emphasis on teams and working collaboratively both professionally and socially. We bring people together to improve the quality and sustainability of the built environment through our expert knowledge in delivering local solutions for global issues. A sentiment underpinned by our shared vision of solving global challenges one building at a time, and supported through our values:

• We are progressive
• We collaborate
• We support
• We take ownership

You can expect… Opportunities for flexible and remote working – we understand a work life balance helps us all. Holiday entitlement of 25 days plus bank holidays with long service recognition and festive shutdown. Opportunities for personal and professional growth in a supportive environment including in-house coaching and mentoring. Competitive salaries with regular review and benchmarking to ensure fair pay. We are a real living wage employer. Competitive Company Pension Scheme. Health cash plan scheme. Professional membership support. Family policies. Great office team building events and fully expensed seasonal social events. Cycle to work Scheme. On-site parking facilities (excluding London office). Season Ticket Loan (if applicable). Death in service benefit. Early Finish incentives when the Practice targets are hit. Additional leave allocated for volunteering (up to 2 days). Health & Mental Wellness Programs. Employee Referral Scheme. Employee working groups.

The role… We are currently recruiting for a Financial Controller to join our central team in our Colchester office. Although you will be based in Colchester, you will be required to attend our Billericay office regularly along with intermittent travel to our other Practice offices. The role will include responsibility for the leadership, development and day‑to‑day management of the finance and accountancy function, providing strategic and operational financial support to the Partnership Board and senior managers of the business. You will be required to lead, support and develop a high‑performing finance team, ensuring appropriate skills, capability and succession are in place. You will have overall responsibility for the Practice’s accounting function, ensuring accurate, timely and insightful financial reporting that supports strong financial performance and informed decision making.

Please Note: Due to the nature of the work undertaken successful applicants will need to have active UK SC Clearance or the ability to gain UK SC clearance.

The selected candidate will… Work directly with the Managing Partner, Partnership Board, and senior staff. Support the Partnership Board's Finance and Accounting strategy, to optimise the Practice’s financial performance and input into the strategic position. Ensure accurate reporting on the state of our practice and proactive analysis of the offices, sectors and disciplines. Including detailed information about our systems, processes and profitability. Provide strong leadership in the development of the finance team, ensuring appropriate support, capability building, and effective succession planning. Support and influence the development of practice strategy across all areas of the business, challenging assumptions and decision-making as appropriate and providing financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets, and business drivers. Ensure that company financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth. Act as the driver for robust financial processes and controls, using data and insight to influence effective decision‑making. Work with senior teams in each location to support business growth, inputting into strategies and plans. Take responsibility for the Practice’s cash management policies and credit control across the Practice. Ensure that the regulatory requirements of all statutory bodies are met. Assist with the management of company policies regarding capital requirements, debt, taxation, equity, disposals, and acquisitions, as appropriate within corporate finance. Manage insurance renewals and assist with risk management. Lead and manage the budget process. Preparation and presentation of the annual budgets. Prepare/Submit the Annual Group Statutory Accounts Pack. Liaising with Auditors. Establish a high level of credibility and manage strong working relationships with external parties including clients and advisors. Produce weekly KPI data, report on daily financial control and review and report on monthly accounts and variances. Support the Management Teams in costing and margin analysis, as required. Build a relationship with the local Bank. Budget for, report and monitor capital expenditure: plan vs. actual. Manage company pension schemes, including the organisation of governance meetings as required. Act as Company Secretary. Present to Strategic Partnership Board monthly and Operational Board as directed.

Essential skills, experience, and qualities… Full membership of the requisite professional body (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA). Exceptional accounting and numeracy skills. Highly data‑driven, with the ability to analyse complex financial information and translate it into clear, insightful outputs that inform and influence strategic and operational decision‑making. Familiar with relevant legislation and changes. Engages in continuous professional development and leadership development and training. Organised, proactive and improvement‑focused, with the ability to identify risks, strengthen controls and embed best practice across the finance function. Knowledge and experience with Sage 200. Experience of leading, developing and supporting a finance team, with the ability to build capability, motivate staff and implement effective succession planning.

Desirable skills, experience and attributes... You will be a confident and collaborative communicator with a curious mindset, able to explain financial information clearly to financial and non-financial colleagues. You will build trusted relationships using influence rather than authority, act with integrity and openness, and support a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and shared success in line with Ingleton Wood’s values.

We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement on the Job Description, please apply anyway - you may just be the right candidate for this or other roles in our wider team.

To discover more about life at Ingleton Wood, please visit our website.