Finance Manager in Watford

Location

Near Hitchin (Office Based)

Hours

25–35 hours per week, worked over 5 days (minimum 20 hours considered)

Salary

• Open to discussion
• About Our Client

Our client is a well-established, family-owned private partnership managing a diverse country estate in a beautiful rural setting near Hitchin.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a friendly, close-knit team within a progressive and forward-thinking business.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the continued growth and development of the estate by providing strong financial leadership, driving continuous improvement and embracing technology to enhance financial systems and processes.

Commercial Focus

This role requires a commercially minded finance professional who can look beyond the numbers to understand the wider business.

You will be expected to provide insightful financial analysis, challenge where appropriate, identify opportunities to improve performance, and support strategic decision-making across a diverse portfolio of businesses.

A strong commercial acumen, combined with the ability to use technology to drive efficiencies and continuous improvement, will be essential to success in this role.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Finance Manager will lead the day-to-day financial operations of the business while managing an experienced finance team of two.

You will ensure the production of accurate, timely and insightful financial information to support strategic decision-making across the estate.

Alongside maintaining robust financial controls and compliance, you will champion process improvement, identifying opportunities to modernise systems and implement technology-driven solutions that increase efficiency and add value.

This is a broad and varied role offering significant exposure across multiple business activities and regular interaction with the business owners, senior management and external advisers.

Key Responsibilities

• Finance Leadership
• Lead, manage and develop a small, experienced finance team.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing environment focused on accuracy, efficiency and excellent internal service.
• Ensure workloads are effectively prioritised and key deadlines consistently achieved.
• Financial Planning & Forecasting
• Lead the annual budgeting process across all business areas.
• Work closely with operational managers to prepare and review departmental budgets.
• Maintain and update rolling financial forecasts, highlighting key risks, trends and opportunities.
• Financial Reporting
• Produce accurate monthly, quarterly and annual management accounts within agreed timescales.
• Deliver meaningful financial analysis and commentary on business performance, including budget variances and key commercial insights.
• Monitor cash flow and liquidity on an ongoing basis to support effective financial management.
• Prepare statutory financial reports for both the partnership and associated companies in accordance with UK GAAP.
• Financial Control & Compliance
• Maintain strong financial controls, governance and accounting procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, including:
• UK GAAP
• Payroll, pensions and associated tax obligations
• HMRC reporting
• VAT returns and payments
• Continually review and strengthen financial processes and controls.
• Receivables & Payables
• Oversee timely and accurate invoicing, including rental income and utility recharges.
• Ensure prompt collection of outstanding debts with appropriate escalation procedures.
• Manage supplier payments to maintain strong relationships and effective cash management.
• Systems & Continuous Improvement
• Review existing finance processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Lead the implementation of new systems, technologies and process improvements.
• Manage projects from proposal through to successful delivery, ensuring measurable business benefits are achieved.
• Business Support
• Provide financial analysis and reporting to support management decision-making.
• Produce ad hoc reports and financial modelling as required.
• Liaise with external accountants, tax advisers, banks and other professional advisers where appropriate.

About You!

You will be a qualified accountant with proven experience in a hands-on finance leadership role and enjoy working within a varied, owner-managed business environment.

You will also bring

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong knowledge of UK GAAP and financial reporting.
• Previous experience leading or supervising a finance team.
• Excellent commercial awareness and analytical skills.
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance and financial controls.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a practical, solutions-focused approach.
• Highly developed organisational and project management skills.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and using technology to drive efficiencies.
• High levels of IT proficiency (experience with Landmark Systems is advantageous but not essential).
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the confidence to work across all levels of the business.
• Flexibility, adaptability and the ability to manage changing priorities.
• A willingness to work within a rural estate environment, including farming and commercial shoot operations.
• You will need your own transport due to the remote location of this business.
• What's on Offer
• Flexible part-time role of
• 25–35 hours per week , with a minimum of

20 hours considered , worked across five days.

• Office-based position in a beautiful rural location near Hitchin.
• Working hours agreed to suit both the successful candidate and the business.
• A very competitive salary which can be discussed privately with you.
• 25 days annual leave (pro rata).
• The opportunity to work in a unique and diverse business where you can make a genuine impact.
• A supportive, collaborative working environment with significant autonomy and responsibility.

Interested?

If you're an experienced finance professional looking for a flexible role where you can make a real contribution within a diverse and growing rural business, we'd love to hear from you.

Please apply today.