At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform finance functions while ensuring accurate financial reporting.
- Company: Join Marston Events, a dynamic company delivering graduation ceremonies across the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant, seasonal business with a focus on innovation and improvement.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping financial strategies during an exciting growth phase.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong financial control and team leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Marston Events is looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Financial Controller to lead and transform our finance function as we enter an exciting period of business growth.
This is an opportunity for an experienced finance professional who combines strong financial control with a track record of improving systems, processes and teams.
You will play a pivotal role in strengthening our financial foundations, developing a high-performing finance team and building the systems, insight and reporting capabilities needed to support the next stage of our growth.
Marston's Financial Controller owns the month-end close, produces reliable management and board reporting, leads the finance team day to day.
- Line Manager: CEO with dotted line to CFO
- Direct Reports: Finance Team
- Department: Finance
- Job type / hours: Full time - 5 days a week on site (Andover)
- Role Purpose
The Financial Controller is accountable for the integrity of Marston's financial records and the timely delivery of monthly management accounts, board reporting and statutory year-end financials.
They lead the finance team and own the month-end close and internal controls.
They also lead the finance transformation, working with the CFO, IT and Operations to modernise how finance captures, reconciles and reports data.
About Marston
Marston Events delivers graduation ceremonies for universities and colleges across the UK, working in partnership with each institution (our Partners).
We provide academic dress, ceremony photography, ticketing and on-the-day services to graduating students and their guests (our Customers).
The business is highly seasonal and event driven. Revenue is earned across a large number of ceremonies either via an e-commerce site or via , on-site sales.
Person specification
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
- At least five years' post-qualification experience, including two or more as a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or equivalent.
- Hands-on ownership of a month-end close.
- Track record of producing monthly management accounts with clear commentary for non-finance managers.
- Experience preparing board packs and presenting to a board or senior leadership team.
- Proven people manager who has built and developed a small finance team.
- Experience improving finance processes and systems, from specifying requirements to testing and embedding change.
- Project management experience within finance transformation.
- Experience in an events, ticketing, education services, retail or other seasonal, high-volume transaction business.
- Experience in a PE-backed or owner-managed SME, or a business going through change.
- Power BI (or similar BI tool) and a working understanding of SQL or relational data.
- Experience reconciling payment gateways (for example World Pay or Stripe) and e-commerce platforms to the ledger.
- Stock accounting and valuation.
- Organised and deadline-driven, with high standards of accuracy.
- Comfortable working hands-on as well as leading others.
- Curious about data and how the business works, and willing to challenge the way things are done.
- Clear communicator who can explain financial results to operational colleagues.
- Resilient through the peak ceremony season.
Key responsibilities
- 1. Month-end close and financial accounting
- Own and run a formal month-end close calendar.
- Prepare or review all balance sheet reconciliations each month, including bank, payment gateways (World Pay, Stripe), debtors, creditors, VAT, payroll, accruals, prepayments, deferred income and stock.
- Review and approve manual journals before the period is locked in Xero.
- Own revenue recognition and deferred income by revenue stream, ensuring income is released in line with when ceremonies take place.
- Reconcile order and payment data from SQL Server database to Xero each month, including on-the-day takings and refunds.
- Maintain the chart of accounts, cost centres and Xero tracking categories (Events, Ceremony Month) so costs and income are coded to the right event.
- Calculate and reconcile commission due to Partners each month.
- 2. Management reporting
- Deliver a monthly management accounts pack: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow and commentary on variances against budget and prior year.
- Build event-level and Partner-level profitability reporting, comparing each event with prior occurrences of the same event.
- Produce the weekly cash position and a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast.
- Support the annual budget and reforecasts, owning the assumptions and their documentation.
- Agree a single, documented definition for each KPI and report it consistently.
- 3. Board reporting
- Prepare the quarterly board pack, circulated at least five working days before each meeting.
- Support the CFO with board papers on budgets, capital expenditure and policy decisions.
- Maintain the board action log and the reporting calendar for the year.
- 4. Finance transformation
- Work with the CFO, Operations and CTO to automate reporting, moving to self-serve Power BI reporting from the source database.
- Specify finance requirements for system changes.
- Document finance processes and replace manual, single-person workarounds with controlled, repeatable procedures.
- Test and sign off system changes that affect finance data before they go live.
- 5. Leading the team
- Line-manage, develop and motivate the finance team, setting clear objectives and running regular one-to-ones and reviews.
- Allocate work through the close and the event season, building cover so no process depends on one person.
- Identify skills gaps and training needs and contribute to decisions on team structure and outsourcing.
- Act as the CFO's deputy when needed.
- 6. Controls, compliance and statutory
- Own the internal control framework: segregation of duties, authorisation limits, the bank mandate and second-person checks on changes to supplier and bank details.
- Lead the year-end close and statutory accounts preparation, working with the external accountants.
- Ensure compliance with HMRC (VAT, PAYE), Companies House filing deadlines and lender reporting requirements.
Marston Events is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Financial Controller in Andover employer: Marston Events Limited.
Marston Events Limited is an attractive employer due to its commitment to employee development and a collaborative work culture. The company provides opportunities for career advancement and focuses on maintaining a supportive environment for its staff.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Controller in Andover
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Marston Events Limited.. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Controller in Andover
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Marston Events Limited..
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Marston Events Limited.'s website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marston Events Limited.
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Marston Events Limited..
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Marston Events Limited. will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Marston Events Limited. employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
