At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial controls, manage audits, and improve reporting processes.
- Company: Established international engineering and manufacturing business in Luton.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Opportunity for process improvement and team leadership in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Step into a leadership role with ownership and visibility in finance.
- Qualifications: ACA/ACCA qualified with strong accounting and audit experience.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 78000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a technically strong and ambitious Financial Manager to join a well-established international engineering and manufacturing business based in Luton. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a practice-trained accountant currently operating within a Financial Accountant or Group Accountant position who is looking to step into a broader leadership role with greater ownership and visibility.
Reporting into senior finance leadership, the successful candidate will take ownership of the balance sheet, financial controls environment, and audit process across the UK business, while supporting wider group reporting and continuous improvement initiatives. This is a highly visible role within the finance function, suited to someone who enjoys combining strong technical accounting capability with process improvement, controls, and stakeholder engagement.
Key Responsibilities- Financial Control & Balance Sheet Ownership
- Take full ownership of the balance sheet, ensuring reconciliations are accurate, complete, and well controlled.
- Review and challenge balance sheet reconciliations across key areas including accruals, provisions, fixed assets, inventory, and intercompany balances.
- Ensure robust month-end controls and reporting processes are maintained across the finance function.
- Drive improvements in financial controls, governance, and reporting accuracy.
- Audit & Statutory Reporting
- Lead the year-end audit process and act as the primary contact for external auditors.
- Coordinate audit deliverables, ensuring information is accurate and provided within agreed timelines.
- Support the preparation of statutory accounts and related disclosures.
- Assist with technical accounting matters and ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards and internal policies.
- Treasury & Cash Management
- Own treasury operations including 13-week cash flow forecasting, FX exposure management, and financial risk oversight.
- Manage banking relationships and ensure effective liquidity and working capital management.
- Provide challenge and oversight on credit control and cash discipline.
- Controls & Process Improvement
- Identify opportunities to strengthen controls, streamline processes, and improve reporting quality.
- Support finance transformation and system/process enhancement initiatives.
- Work collaboratively with operational finance and transactional teams to improve financial integrity and reporting discipline.
- Help develop scalable and efficient reporting frameworks as the business continues to evolve.
- ACA / ACCA qualified.
- Ideally audit trained within practice before moving into industry currently operating at Senior Accountant level.
- Strong understanding of balance sheet control, audit, and financial reporting processes.
- Experience working with external auditors and managing audit deliverables.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge and attention to detail.
- Team leadership skills and ability to upskill.
- Excellent Excel and financial systems capability.
Salary: £70,000 – £78,000 basic salary plus comprehensive benefits package, including hybrid working (3 days per week office based).
Finance Manager in Bedford employer: Investigo
Join a dynamic and innovative international engineering and manufacturing business in Luton, where your expertise as a Finance Manager will be valued and rewarded. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, our collaborative work culture fosters continuous improvement and offers comprehensive benefits, including hybrid working arrangements. This is an exceptional opportunity to take ownership of financial controls and contribute to meaningful projects within a supportive environment that prioritises professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager in Bedford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its financial practices. Show them you know your stuff about balance sheet control and audit processes. We want to see that you’re not just a numbers person but also someone who can drive improvements!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've improved financial controls or led successful audits in the past. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can bring real value to the team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager in Bedford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Finance Manager role. Highlight your technical accounting capabilities, balance sheet ownership, and any leadership experience you've had. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Talk about your experience with financial controls, audit processes, and how you’ve driven improvements in previous positions. Let us know what excites you about joining StudySmarter!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved processes or led successful projects in your past roles. This will help us see your potential impact on our finance function.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Investigo
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your technical accounting skills. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've managed balance sheets and reconciliations in your previous roles. Show them you can handle the numbers with confidence!
✨Prepare for the Audit Talk
Since this role involves leading the year-end audit process, be prepared to discuss your experience with external auditors. Think of specific examples where you coordinated audit deliverables and ensured compliance with accounting standards. This will show your capability in managing critical financial processes.
✨Showcase Your Process Improvement Skills
The company is looking for someone who can drive improvements in financial controls and reporting accuracy. Come armed with examples of how you've identified opportunities for process enhancements in your past roles. Highlight any successful initiatives that improved efficiency or accuracy.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
This role requires strong stakeholder engagement, so be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with different teams. Share experiences where you’ve communicated complex financial information clearly and effectively, demonstrating your ability to lead and influence others in a finance context.
