Interim Financial Controller in Leeds

Interim Projects Finance Controller 9-12 Month Contract | c£70,000-£80,000 FTC or equivalent day rate | West Yorkshire

This is not a role designed to simply keep the lights on. It is a hands-on interim assignment for a qualified accountant who enjoys stepping into a busy, operational environment, understanding what makes the business tick, and quickly becoming the person people trust to get things moving. You will be joining a well-established international FMCG business as a critical hire.

Why this assignment is different

A lot of interim finance roles are described as "project-based" but quickly become pure BAU. This one has both - and that is the appeal. There is a site to support, numbers to own and deadlines to hit, but there is also a genuine opportunity to influence how finance works across a number of practical, visible projects. You will be close to the senior team, close to the operation and close to the areas where good finance input can make an immediate difference. That could mean improving cash visibility, strengthening controls, supporting a systems migration, making reporting more useful, or helping operational stakeholders understand what the numbers are really saying. For the right person, this is the kind of interim assignment that offers variety, trust and tangible output. You will not be waiting for permission to add value. You will be expected to spot opportunities, solve problems and help leave finance in better shape than you found it.

What you will be walking into

You will take ownership of finance support for a key operating site, working with local leadership and group finance. There is a small team environment, a hands-on culture and a broad brief that spans financial control, reporting, working capital, commercial support and systems/process improvement. The day-to-day still matters. Month end, management accounts, balance sheet control, cash forecasting, VAT, stock and working capital all need someone credible and dependable. But the wider value of the role is in using that platform to improve the way things work, support decision-making and bring more visibility to the business. You will also play a key finance role in planned change activity, including systems work around receivables and ERP, strengthening controls, improving reporting rhythms, and supporting commercial and operational finance projects as they arise.

What is in it for you

• A broad, commercially connected finance role rather than a narrow reporting contract
• Real project exposure across systems, controls, cash, reporting and process improvement
• High visibility with site leadership, group finance and operational stakeholders
• The chance to influence how finance supports a live operating environment
• A role where you can make practical improvements and see the impact quickly
• A 9-12 month runway, giving enough time to properly embed, deliver and leave a legacy

The kind of person who will enjoy this

You will likely be a qualified accountant - ACA, ACCA or CIMA - with the confidence to operate across financial control, management reporting, working capital, systems and commercial support. You do not need to be precious about job titles or rigid boundaries; this suits someone who is comfortable rolling their sleeves up, asking good questions and making sensible judgement calls. You will be close enough to the detail to know what is really happening, but experienced enough to translate that into useful insight for senior stakeholders. You will be able to work autonomously, build trust quickly, and bring structure without overcomplicating things. Experience in a manufacturing, product, FMCG, consumer goods, Retail or multi-entity environment would be helpful, but the most important things are pace, judgement, resilience and a practical delivery mindset. ERP migration exposure would also be useful, but it is not a deal-breaker if you can learn quickly and bring sound finance fundamentals.

The bottom line

This is a high-trust, high-impact interim role for someone who wants more than a maintenance contract. There is BAU to own, but there is also meaningful project work, commercial exposure and the opportunity to make finance more useful to the business. If you like variety, pace and problem-solving - and you want your next contract to feel like it has a purpose - this is exactly the kind of assignment that should be on your radar.