Group Financial Controller in Belfast

Macklin Group is a family-owned business with over 45 years’ experience, operating across residential and nursing care, hospitality and healthcare staffing through Macklin Care Homes, The Malone Hotel and Solos Healthcare. As the group continues to develop, we are seeking a commercially minded Financial Controller to strengthen financial reporting, lead day-to-day finance operations and improve the systems and controls supporting our businesses. Reporting to the Group Finance Director, the Financial Controller will ensure accurate, timely management accounts, balance sheet integrity, cash flow reporting, and the effective operation of the finance function. The role combines strong accounting discipline with practical commercial insight. You will turn financial information into clear explanations and actions, helping managers understand performance, control costs, and improve results. You will work within Macklin Group’s four decision-making lenses: Care, Compliance, Culture and Commercial, supporting the long-term continuity of the business. Reporting Line : Group Finance Director. Location : Belfast, with travel to other group sites as required. Hours : 37.5 hours per week. Salary : Competitive, based on experience and qualifications. About The Role Key responsibilities Management Accounts and Financial Reporting Management accounts and financial reporting Own the monthly close and preparation of management accounts for individual businesses and the consolidated group. Maintain a clear timetable, with defined responsibilities and consistent accounting policies. Produce meaningful comparisons against budget, forecast and prior year, explaining the underlying operational causes of variances. Ensure accurate accruals, prepayments, intercompany balances and cost allocations. Maintain fully reconciled balance sheets, with supporting evidence and prompt resolution of outstanding items. Prepare concise reporting for the Finance Director and management teams, identifying risks, opportunities and required actions. Finance Team Leadership Manage and develop the finance team within the structure agreed with the Finance Director. Set clear responsibilities, deadlines and standards across accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations and payroll support. Build resilience through documented processes, cross-training and appropriate cover. Improve accuracy and responsiveness while reducing avoidable manual work. Establish a service-focused finance function that supports managers and challenges constructively. Cash Flow and Working Capital Maintain a rolling cash flow forecast, highlighting funding requirements and emerging pressures. Oversee debtor reporting, collection activity and escalation of overdue balances. Strengthen controls around care fee billing, funding approvals, fee changes, resident contributions and top-up arrangements. Work with operational colleagues to identify missing contractual or funding documentation affecting billing and collection. Oversee supplier payment schedules and payment-run controls within agreed authority limits. Payroll and Workforce Cost Control Oversee payroll reconciliations and financial controls, working closely with payroll, HR and operational managers. Improve the flow of approved information from rotas and North Time Data into payroll. Strengthen checks over overtime, enhancements, holiday pay, allowances and other adjustments. Report workforce costs by business, site and role, including agency expenditure and internal staffing costs. Help managers understand the financial impact of rota decisions, vacancies, absence and deviations from planned hours. Budgeting and Commercial Support Coordinate annual budgets and regular forecasts under the direction of the Finance Director. Work with managers to build realistic assumptions and clear accountability for financial performance. Develop reporting appropriate to each business: care homes — occupancy, fee income, wage percentage, agency costs and costs per resident; hotel — room revenue, occupancy, payroll, departmental margins and food and beverage performance; Solus Healthcare — hours delivered, utilisation, employment costs, margins and intercompany charging. Evaluate savings and improvement initiatives, distinguishing forecast benefits from savings actually achieved. Support financial appraisal of capital expenditure and other business proposals. Systems Controls and Assurance Improve and modernise finance and rostering-to-payroll integration systems, including data quality, reconciliations and reporting. Assess integration opportunities across finance, purchasing, time and attendance and payroll. Maintain proportionate financial controls, approval limits, access permissions and segregation of duties. Coordinate year-end schedules and support external accountants, auditors and tax advisers. Ensure statutory and tax information is prepared accurately and submitted within agreed deadlines. Support the integration of acquired businesses into group reporting and control processes. Protect confidential financial, employee and resident information. Authority and Accountability The Financial Controller owns day-to-day finance delivery within delegated authority and reports to the Group Finance Director. Financial strategy, banking and funding relationships, major commitments and reserved financial decisions remain with the Finance Director and relevant group approval structures. Company Benefits: To reward the demanding work of our fantastic colleagues, we offer an excellent benefits package as follows: Collaborating with an award-winning team with family values. A wide variety of training is provided. Career development opportunities. Employee Assistance Programme. Discounted rates at Malone Hotel, Belfast. Free car parking Please note we will only accept up-to-date CVs; without this, we cannot offer an interview. Interviews may take place before the job advertisement closes and when suitable applications are received. If we appoint a suitable candidate, the role may close early; therefore, please submit your application promptly. In addition, we also reserve the right to enhance the criteria at the shortlisting stage. An Enhanced Access NI Check will be required for this post. If successful, please be aware that we do have a policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders. As per the Access NI Code of Practice, Macklin Care Homes also has a policy on the secure handling, use, storage, and retention of disclosure information. Copies of these documents, along with the Access NI Code of Practice, are available upon request by contacting the HR Department. It is Macklin Group's Policy that the existence of a criminal conviction will not necessarily lead to the withdrawal of a job offer, but the failure to disclose all criminal convictions fully and accurately will lead to the withdrawal of a job offer. Macklin Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Required Criteria Qualified accountant: ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent. Experience managing month-end reporting and preparing management accounts across multiple entities or sites. Strong technical accounting knowledge and a disciplined approach to balance sheet reconciliation. Experience leading or supervising a finance team. Practical experience of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and working capital management. Strong Excel skills and confidence working with accounting systems and operational data. Ability to explain financial performance clearly to non-finance colleagues. Evidence of improving processes, resolving control weaknesses and delivering measurable results. Willingness to work hands-on, investigate discrepancies and follow issues through to resolution. Desired Criteria Experience in care, healthcare, hospitality or another labour intensive, multi-site business. Experience within a family-owned or growing business. Familiarity with Sage 50, Procure Wizard or time and attendance systems. Experience improving payroll controls, system integrations or acquisition reporting. About The Company Macklin Care Homes – Caring with Heart for Over 30 Years For over 30 years, Macklin Care Homes have been dedicated to providing exceptional care. We bring decades of experience, knowledge, and expertise to every individual we support. But we are not just another care home—we are family-first. Everyone who comes through our doors—residents, staff, relatives, and suppliers—is treated as part of one big caring community. We proudly operate six care homes across Northern Ireland: Arlington, Our Lady's, and Parkmanor Oaks – Belfast Milesian Manor – Magherafelt Ratheane – Coleraine Leabank – Ballycastle Our vision is to make a genuine, positive impact on the lives of people in our local communities. We strive to be the trusted care provider that families choose with confidence. Through dedication, passion, and commitment, we care with heart—creating an environment where people feel safe, loved, and respected. At Macklin Care Homes, we aim to be the preferred choice in the community—where families know their loved ones are in the best hands. Company Culture Make a Real Difference – Join Macklin Care Homes Do you want to make a genuine difference in the lives of others? At Macklin Care Homes, we are always looking for passionate, caring individuals to join our team—and in return, we will help bring out the very best in you. As part of our award-winning team, you will be valued for your contribution and supported with opportunities for career development, all within a friendly and rewarding working environment. Our residents are at the heart of everything we do. We are inspired by their stories, their experiences, and the knowledge that our care truly makes a difference in their lives. Guided by a strong set of core values, we cultivate a culture of respect, dedication, and compassion. These values ensure that residents and their families remain at the centre of all our efforts. We are proud of the positive, caring culture we live by every day. If you are compassionate, committed, and care with heart, we would love to hear from you. Join us, and be part of a team that truly makes a difference. For all recruitment-related enquiries, please contact our Recruitment Team at: recruitment@macklingroup.com Company Benefits A Family-Run Organisation That Cares with Heart As a family-run organisation, we live and breathe our core values: treating people really well, trust, dedication, and continuous development. When you join Macklin Care Homes, you don’t just become part of a team—you become part of our family. Caring with heart is at the centre of everything we do, for both our residents and our team members. It’s this commitment to compassion, respect, and support that makes our homes a truly special place to live and work. Vacation, Paid time off, Retirement plan and/or pension, Employee development programs, Free parking, Referral bonus, Competitive salary, Long service recognition, Free parking or Discounted parking , Employee Assistance Scheme, Work With Charities, Social Opportunities, Employee of the Month, Employee Recognition Scheme, Culture of recognition, Progression opportunities, Staff celebration events Salary Not disclosed