Fractional Financial Controller (one day per week) in Horsforth

Location: Leeds (on site only, must be within commutable distance)

Commitment: one day per week for 12 months

We are seeking a Financial Controller with previous experience of contracting to work one day per week on a 12 month assignment to provide hands-on financial leadership, operational support, and mentoring to a recently qualified management accountant and the rest of the finance team. This is not a traditional advisory or oversight role. The successful candidate will work alongside the recently qualified Management Accountant, providing practical, real-time coaching through the completion of day-to-day financial control activities. The objective is to develop the Management Accountant into a future Financial Controller by adopting a "teach by doing" approach, transferring both technical expertise and practical commercial knowledge. The role will involve active participation in key financial processes while supporting wider finance team development and ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality financial controls and reporting.

• Financial Control & Reporting
• Work alongside the Management Accountant to prepare monthly management accounts.
• Support and review month-end close activities, ensuring completeness and accuracy of financial reporting.
• Assist with finalisation of month-end figures and balance sheet reviews.
• Oversee and participate in monthly reconciliations.
• Support preparation of VAT returns and ensure compliance with HMRC requirements.
• Assist with cashflow forecasting, working capital monitoring and liquidity management.
• Review accounting entries, accruals, prepayments and journals.
• Ensure established financial control processes are followed in full.
• Mentoring & Capability Development
• Provide practical, hands-on coaching to the recently qualified Management Accountant through direct involvement in finance activities.
• Share best practice in financial control, reporting, compliance and team management.
• Develop the Management Accountant's understanding of the responsibilities and expectations of a Financial Controller.
• Build confidence in decision-making, problem solving and stakeholder management.
• Support the development of technical accounting knowledge and commercial awareness.
• Create a structured pathway for progression into a future Financial Controller role.
• Finance Team Support
• Provide guidance and support to the wider finance team as required.
• Assist with Purchase Ledger processes.
• Support Credit Control activities and debtor management.
• Provide oversight and support for payroll processes and payroll controls.
• Assist with compliance requirements, audit preparation and statutory reporting activities.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives across the finance function.
• Act as a sounding board for finance team members on technical and operational matters.

• Previous experience as a Financial Controller, Head of Finance or Finance Manager.
• Strong technical accounting and financial control expertise.
• Experience preparing management accounts and overseeing month-end close processes.
• Experience with VAT, payroll oversight, reconciliations and cashflow forecasting.
• Strong mentoring, coaching and people development skills.
• Ability to communicate complex financial concepts in a practical and understandable way.
• Hands-on approach with willingness to actively complete finance tasks rather than operate solely at a strategic level.
• Ideal to have experience developing newly qualified accountants or finance professionals.
• Ideal to have experience within growing SMEs or owner-managed businesses.

• Increased capability and confidence of the Management Accountant to assume future Financial Controller responsibilities.
• Accurate and timely completion of month-end reporting.
• Ensured continued high quality and robustness of financial controls.
• Strong knowledge transfer and development of the wider finance team.

This is an opportunity for an experienced finance professional to make a lasting impact by developing the next generation of financial leadership within the business. The role combines practical financial control responsibilities with meaningful mentoring and knowledge transfer, allowing the successful candidate to leave a sustainable legacy while remaining actively involved in the day-to-day finance operation.