Financial Controller in Bury St Edmunds

THE OPPORTUNITY

Chestnut is a multi-entity hospitality group operating pubs and inns across East Anglia, alongside wine distribution and food businesses.

We are continuing to strengthen our finance function, improve reporting and controls, and make better use of modern systems, automation and AI.

This is a hands‑on Financial Controller role responsible for day‑to‑day financial reporting, control, cash management and leadership of a finance team of four.

It is intended as a genuine progression opportunity for an experienced Finance Manager, Senior Management Accountant or Financial Controller from a smaller organisation who is ready to take on broader responsibility.

You will need to be confident managing month‑end, reporting, balance‑sheet control and a small team.

With support from the Head of Finance, you will also gain increasing exposure to Board reporting, banks, external financiers and wider commercial decision‑making.

• ROLE PURPOSE
• Manage group reporting and financial‑control processes.
• Maintain the accuracy of the group’s ledgers and balance sheet.
• Deliver timely reporting on performance, cash and working capital.
• Lead and develop the finance team.
• Improve finance systems, processes and controls.
• Support operational managers with clear financial insight.
• Develop the responsible use of approved AI, automation and digital tools.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Financial reporting and control
• Manage the monthly close across all group entities.
• Prepare accurate management accounts, analysis and the monthly Board pack.
• Maintain strong balance‑sheet reconciliations and intercompany controls.
• Review subsidiary reporting, including the wine and food businesses.
• Support statutory reporting, audit and financing‑related requirements.
• Present financial information clearly to financial and non‑financial stakeholders.
• Cash and working capital
• Prepare weekly cash, creditor and short‑term cash‑flow reporting.
• Monitor working capital and identify emerging risks.
• Support banking, lender and covenant‑reporting requirements.
• Improve cash forecasting and financial visibility across the group.
• Systems, AI and process improvement
• Review finance processes and implement practical improvements.
• Make effective use of Xero, Excel and the group’s reporting tools.
• Identify appropriate uses of approved AI and automation to improve efficiency, accuracy or insight.
• Ensure all automated and AI‑supported outputs are checked, validated and approved.
• Document key processes and support improvements to procurement and cost control.
• Team leadership and business partnering
• Line‑manage, coach and develop a finance team of four.
• Set clear responsibilities, objectives and standards.
• Plan workloads and support sustainable delivery.
• Build effective relationships with operational and subsidiary managers.
• Provide practical financial insight and constructive challenge.
• Contribute to budgets, forecasts and wider business projects.
• WORKING WITH THE HEAD OF FINANCE

The Financial Controller will lead the day‑to‑day delivery of month‑end, management reporting, cash reporting, financial controls and team management.

The Head of Finance will retain overall responsibility for finance strategy, annual planning, statutory reporting, audit leadership, major financing decisions and senior stakeholder relationships.

The Financial Controller will support these areas and take on increasing responsibility as their experience develops.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Strong practical experience of management accounting, month‑end reporting and financial control.
• Experience across multiple sites, entities, departments or business units, or readiness to manage comparable complexity.
• Hands‑on experience preparing management accounts and balance‑sheet reconciliations.
• Strong Excel and accounting‑system capability, ideally including Xero.
• Evidence of improving a finance process, report or control.
• Experience managing, supervising or developing finance colleagues.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate work to deadlines.
• Ability to explain financial information clearly to financial and non‑financial stakeholders.
• A collaborative, constructive and solutions‑focused working style.
• Strong systems aptitude and willingness to develop capability in approved AI and automation tools.
• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, part‑qualified, or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable

• Hospitality, leisure, retail or multi‑site experience.
• Experience in a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or Senior Management Accountant role.
• Exposure to Board reporting, audit, banking or covenant reporting.
• Experience in a multi‑entity or subsidiary environment.
• Practical experience using AI, automation or reporting tools to improve finance processes.
• WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within the first 6 to 12 months

• Monthly management accounts and weekly reporting are accurate and on time.
• Balance‑sheet reconciliations and financial controls operate consistently.
• Cash and working‑capital reporting is reliable and useful.
• The finance team has clear responsibilities, objectives and support.
• At least one significant finance process has been improved, automated or simplified.
• The Financial Controller is contributing effectively to Board, banking and commercial reporting.
• The successful candidate is taking increasing responsibility across the finance function.
• FAIR AND INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT

Chestnut Group is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. Applications will be assessed consistently against the published requirements of the role.

We welcome candidates from varied backgrounds and career paths who can demonstrate the relevant capability and potential.

Please tell us if you require any reasonable adjustments during the application, interview or assessment process.

Requests will be considered individually and will not affect the assessment of your application.

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