Finance Manager - Contract role (6m+) in Wembley

We are looking for an experienced Finance Manager to join our team on a 6-month contract. This contract role is a project role while our current Finance Manager is leaving (March 26) and a new permanent joining later in the year. ScandiKitchen has been importing food from the Nordics for the past 19 years. During that time, we have grown from being one café to being a large warehouse, online shop and two cafes with a team of 50 people. We supply B2B and B2C as well as larger grocery accounts.

This is a hands‑on role suited to a seasoned contractor who can join the team running, add immediate value and comfortably work across both management and financial accounting activities. This role is not a caretaker role: We are looking for someone who can document the handover, tighten up processes and implement necessary changes before handing this over to the permanent person in the role. The role has one direct report (Finance Assistant).

• Prepare and post journals (accruals, prepayments and adjustments)
• Reconcile key balance sheet accounts
• Produce monthly management accounts (signed off by Finance Director)
• Perform variance analysis against budget and prior periods
• Support budgeting activities, including data collection and consolidation
• Update rolling forecasts based on latest actuals
• Assist with cost allocation and overhead analysis
• Update cash flow forecasts and support revenue forecasting activities
• Monitor and report on working capital metrics
• Manage billing processes
• Prepare and submit quarterly VAT returns
• Ensure compliance with financial controls and policies
• Identify inefficiencies in reporting or reconciliation processes and suggest simplification opportunities and prepare handover to permanent FM
• Support scenario modelling and profitability analysis
• Maintain the accuracy and integrity of financial data
• Prepare financial reports and perform some internal auditing, as required

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ ACCA/ CIMA or equivalent)
• Strong accounting background, including payables, receivables, and bank recs.
• Hands‑on experience ideally using NetSuite (another ERP system also works, but as we use NetSuite this would be preferable).
• Experience of working in an SME and ideally FMCG
• Experience working in a small finance team covering a broad range of activities
• Strong Excel skills (intermediate level, including manipulating large data sets, use of formulas such as XLOOKUP at minimum, tables etc)
• You are used to delivering impactful support within short timeframes
• Some comprehension of a Scandinavian language (or German/Dutch) (This is helpful in order to be able to understand basics of incoming written correspondence – there’s no need to speak/write the language).

Note: This role is office based due to the nature of the project. Our office is in Park Royal (NW10 7QQ). Parking onsite. We are not adding a salary level here as this depends on the experience someone brings to this role. We’re happy to discuss this with you before interview stage to ensure the role is in line with expectations. To apply, please send your CV and cover note to people@scandikitchen.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.