Finance Manager in Rugeley

Award-Winning Technology Business | Opportunity to Shape the Finance Function

Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 per annum DOE

Working Hours: Mon-Fri | 8:30am – 5:00pm.

About the Business

Our client is an established, award-winning and commercially driven technology business with an excellent reputation for customer service and commitment. With a close-knit team and ambitious plans, this is an exciting opportunity to join a successful organisation and play an important role in its continued growth.

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking its first dedicated Finance Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day finance function and provide valuable financial insight to support business performance. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will ensure financial information is accurate, timely and meaningful, highlighting profitability, identifying potential issues and recommending improvements. You will have support from a fractional Finance Director for technical guidance and strategic projects, while an outsourced accountancy practice manages payroll processing, VAT and year-end accounts. This is a hands-on role offering the opportunity to shape the finance function, work closely with senior leadership and make a genuine commercial impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Management Accounts & Commercial Reporting:
• Prepare monthly management accounts and provide clear financial commentary.
• Explain variances, trends and changes in business performance.
• Analyse profitability across projects, customer agreements, divisions and service lines.
• Monitor gross margins, recurring revenue and customer billing against supplier costs.
• Identify underbilling, discrepancies and opportunities to improve profitability.
• Present financial performance and recommendations to the CEO and senior team.

• Day-to-Day Finance & Financial Control:
• Take ownership of the transactional finance function, including sales invoicing, purchase ledger, supplier payments and credit control.
• Process and reconcile bank transactions and maintain accurate financial records.
• Complete balance sheet reconciliations, accruals and prepayments, and maintain the fixed asset register.
• Ensure costs are correctly allocated and maintain the chart of accounts.
• Manage debtor and creditor queries and maintain effective financial procedures and controls.

• Cash Flow & Financial Planning:
• Prepare rolling short-term cash flow forecasts and monitor the company's cash position.
• Track customer receipts and upcoming supplier payments, highlighting potential pressures.
• Support budgeting, financial planning and commercial decision-making.

The Ideal Candidate:

This role would suit an experienced, hands-on finance professional who enjoys being close to the numbers and taking responsibility for the full finance operation. You will ideally have:

• Experience as a Finance Manager, Financial Controller, Senior Management Accountant or in a similar role.
• The ability to independently produce a full set of monthly management accounts.
• Strong transactional finance experience, including ledgers, invoicing, payments and reconciliations.
• Experience in cash flow forecasting, budgeting and commercial financial analysis.
• A good understanding of UK VAT, payroll processes and financial controls.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence using Xero.
• Experience within an SME, owner-managed, technology, IT or service-led business would be advantageous.
• ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent qualification, part-qualified status or qualified by experience.

Personality & Approach:

Technical ability is important, but so is finding someone who will build strong relationships and fit naturally into the existing team. The successful candidate will be:

• Approachable and collaborative: Able to build trust and work closely with the CEO and wider business.
• Proactive and independent: Comfortable taking ownership, using initiative and working autonomously.
• Commercially minded: Interested in understanding the business and using financial information to support better decisions.
• A practical problem solver: Someone who investigates issues, finds solutions and suggests improvements.
• Resilient and adaptable: Confident managing queries and challenges while taking time to understand the business before making changes.
• Down to earth: A positive, grounded team player who is happy to roll up their sleeves and get involved.

Why Join?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of a first dedicated finance function and make a real difference within an established, award-winning business. If you are a hands-on finance professional who enjoys being close to the numbers, building relationships and making a difference, this could be an excellent next move.