Finance Manager in Ashford

Company Description
Liberon is a renowned manufacturer of premium quality products for wood and stone care, offering a diverse range of solutions for both interior and exterior applications. Established in France in the 19th century, Liberon has earned a reputation as the trusted brand for antique restoration and specialized furniture care. The company is committed to providing top-tier natural waxes, polishes, and materials tailored to the needs of specialist restorers, wood turners, and professionals in the wood-care industry.

Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced and autonomous Financial Controller to lead the financial operations of our subsidiary. This is a key position with broad responsibility across accounting, financial control, reporting, cash management, budgeting, and compliance. The successful candidate will act as the primary financial reference for both local management and Head Office, particularly during quarterly reporting and annual closing, while supporting the company’s strategic and operational objectives in a dynamic, international environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Accounting & Financial Operations
  • Maintain and oversee general and auxiliary accounts, including customers and suppliers.
  • Ensure the regular review and reconciliation of accounts, including monthly bank reconciliations.
  • Supervise and monitor client accounts, including invoicing follow-up, payment reminders, dispute management, and litigation tracking where required.
  • Prepare, review, and close financial statements, at least during the initial phase until transaction volumes increase.
  • Ensure accurate cut-off entries for quarterly reporting, including accruals and prepayments, deferred income and charges, unpaid invoices and invoices to be issued, and participation in advertising and similar adjustments.
  • Coordinate with the local external accountant for annual statutory accounts and balance sheet preparation, payroll processing, social security, and fiscal declarations.
• Reporting & Performance Management
  • Prepare and deliver internal and external financial reports in line with management requirements.
  • Act as the key point of contact for quarterly reporting to the parent company.
  • Develop, maintain, and automate financial dashboards and KPIs.
  • Conduct economic and financial analysis (financial and analytical accounting) to support business decision-making.
  • Produce operational performance reports and trend analyses.
• Cash, Budget & Risk Management
  • Manage and control cash flow, including forecasting and liquidity planning.
  • Monitor and supervise billing and collections.
  • Prepare, control, and monitor the company budget, analysing variances and proposing corrective actions.
  • Control expenditure and ensure alignment with approved budgets.
  • Identify, monitor, and mitigate operational and financial risks.
  • Analyse the company’s investment policy, identifying risks and growth opportunities.
• Tax, Compliance & External Coordination
  • Ensure compliance with tax obligations, including returns, filings, and settlements.
  • Coordinate with external advisors to apply and monitor tax reliefs and deductions, identify and manage subsidies, grants, and financing programmes (national, European, and international).
  • Coordinate with consulting firms to manage statutory and commercial obligations, such as official filings, regional government requirements, and statutory books.
  • Oversee adherence to accounting deadlines and regulatory requirements.

Experience
Minimum 6–8 years of experience in finance or accounting roles, preferably within industrial or related sectors. Strong experience working within international groups, particularly in environments involving parent-subsidiary reporting. Proven experience with ERP systems, including SAP (MM module), Navision, SAGE, or similar. Experience with SAP implementations or migrations is highly desirable. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and general Office tools.

Qualifications
Proficiency in Financial Statements and Financial Reporting. Strong Analytical Skills and experience in Finance. Expertise in Accounting practices and principles. Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy. Ability to work independently and within a team in a hybrid environment. Experience using financial software and tools. Professional certification such as ACA, ACCA, or CIMA (preferred). Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.