Group Financial Controller in Burton upon Trent

The Group Financial Controller will be a pivotal leader in building a high‑performing finance function that acts as a strategic engine of value creation within a private‑equity environment. Responsible for end‑to‑end financial control, reporting, and transformation, the role will ensure that Finance operates on a modern financial systems landscape and supports strategic decision‑making and the group’s strategy growth agenda. This is a rare opportunity to shape a best-in-class finance function of a fast‑growing travel business and directly influence its journey through to a successful PE exit.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high‑quality, investor-grade monthly management accounts, board packs, and annual statutory financial statements.
• Own the group consolidation across multiple entities and currencies.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment, ensuring high‑quality balance sheet governance, reconciliations, and audit readiness.
• Lead on the group’s corporation tax compliance and quarterly VAT returns.
• Own the relationships with auditors, tax advisors and regulators.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a growing high‑calibre, high performing finance team.
• Build a culture of accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the function operates with PE‑grade pace, discipline, and commercial mindset.

Strategic Value Creation

• Partner with the CFO, Head of FP&A, Head of Commercial Finance, and senior business leaders to develop insights that unlock margin opportunities, optimise cash, and drive portfolio value.
• Identify and execute initiatives that improve working capital efficiency, profitability, and cost discipline.

Finance System Transformation

• Lead the implementation of a new cloud‑based finance system replacing legacy platforms (Sage 200), ensuring modernisation, automation, and integration with booking, CRM, and data platforms.
• Drive process redesign to reduce manual work, increase accuracy, and create a scalable finance backbone for the next phase of growth.
• Embed continuous improvement and digital tools across finance.

Skills, Experience & Competencies

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with significant post‑qualification experience.
• Proven experience as a Financial Controller or senior finance leader in a fast‑paced organisation—ideally travel, consumer, or PE‑backed.
• Hands on operator with strong leadership skills and capability to manage teams in a scaling business.
• Strong understanding of private‑equity value creation levers, including KPIs, cash drivers, and portfolio reporting disciplines.
• Track record of leading finance system implementations and driving automation.
• Exceptional technical accounting expertise paired with commercial acumen.
• Experience working with multi‑currency consolidations, FX, and international entity structures.
• Exposure to travel industry dynamics such as bookings, TOMS/VAT, and supplier reconciliations.

Personal Attributes

• High‑energy, hands‑on, resilient, and comfortable operating in an evolving environment.
• Naturally collaborative, able to influence and challenge constructively.
• A strategic thinker who thrives on problem‑solving, value creation, and delivering measurable impact.
• Strength in communication—able to convert complex financials into simple insights for non‑finance stakeholders.

Why Join?

This role places you at the heart of a high‑growth, PE‑backed travel brand with the mandate to transform finance into a strategic powerhouse. You will shape the systems, processes, and leadership foundations that enable superior performance. The role is based in Burton on Trent and we operate hybrid working with 3 days per week in the office. Reporting to the CFO, other key stakeholders include Head of Commercial Finance and the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis. The basis salary is up to £95k, plus annual bonus along with a suite of other benefits.