Financial Controller in Preston

We’re looking for a highly skilled Financial Controller who thrives on accuracy, consistency, and control. You’ll take full ownership of our multi-entity month-end close process ensuring high levels of compliance and delivering timely, accurate financial reporting that leadership can trust. In addition, you will have opportunities to become a partner to the business beyond compliance and reporting, working closely with the European Group CFO.

About Us: Walker Fire Group is the UK division of the Moyne Roberts Group, a market leader in fire and security safety products and services, with 700 employees across Europe and the UK. We operate with a high level of autonomy across our regional companies in the UK — while benefiting from the scale, systems, and support of our wider parent group. As we enter an exciting phase of growth and transformation, we’re strengthening our finance function to support greater operational complexity and future expansion — creating a prime opportunity for hands-on financial leadership with room to grow into a more strategic financial leadership position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead day-to-day finance operations across invoicing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable, managing both internal staff and external partners.
• Take full ownership of finance processes and controls, including balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany transactions, inventory coding/pricing/valuation, purchase order matching, and supplier payments.
• Deliver accurate, timely month-end close of consolidated financial statements, with continuous improvement and full documentation of close processes.
• Manage tax compliance and filings, ensuring timely payments and up-to-date records (in conjunction with external partners where applicable).
• Coordinate and lead external audits, ensuring preparedness, accurate reporting, and minimal post-audit adjustments.
• Partner with the Group CFO to deliver clear, actionable financial insights and reporting to group leadership and stakeholders.

Must-Have Qualifications / Experience:

• Legal right to work in the UK without visa or work-permit sponsorship.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken).
• 3-5 years’ experience as a Financial Controller, or Senior Finance Manager within a multi-entity environment.
• Highly motivated candidates, with strong experience, looking to make a step up to Financial Controller would also be considered.
• Good understanding of tax compliance in the UK.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing month-end and year-end close processes (including booking journals) for multi-entity or consolidated accounts.
• Strong working knowledge of accounting systems and software.
• Track record of proactively generating, analysing and interpreting data to support financial accuracy and insight.
• Experience in payroll processing and oversight.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications / Experience:

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA etc.) with strong technical knowledge.
• Experience with financial systems such as Exact Globe (accounting), Lucanet (consolidation), Scan Sys (purchase invoice), or similar tools.
• Experience managing inventory data in a company, including item codes, prices, and stock value.
• Demonstrated experience in process improvement and implementing financial policies and controls.
• Experience in a company growing by acquisition, and technical accounting for such acquisitions.

What We Offer:

• A key role in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial organisation with real ability to expand your scope and define your career path.
• Autonomy to lead core finance functions and influence how we scale operations across the UK.
• Highly visible work with direct exposure to C-level leadership.
• Company pension provided. Additional Leave available. Free on-site parking. Company events.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent. Pay: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year.

Experience: Finance & Controlling: 3 years (required).