Financial Controller

Our head offices are based in the beautiful village of Hook Norton near Banbury. Here you will find our teams of finance, HR, purchasing, marketing & creative that support all of our locations across the Thomas Franks family. There is ample parking space available when visiting.

Based in Hook Norton and reporting to the Group Finance Director, this person will oversee a team of 16 across the Management Accounts team and Accounts Payable team with two direct reports. This newly created role will focus on building on our current systems and processes and improving financial controls to ensure as the business continues to grow in the UK and internationally risks are mitigated.

Supporting the Finance Manager and Accounts Payable Manager to deliver on month-end targets and working with Regional Directors to improve operational efficiencies and commercial decision-making. This role will suit somebody who has more than 5 years’ experience managing a large finance team across multiple entities with foreign subsidiaries. Delivering on and improving on multiple deadlines requires someone who is organised and meticulous.

• Line management of the Finance Manager and Accounts Payable Manager
• Supporting both managers on team and department objective setting and performance against these
• Supporting in finance training to the rest of the business with the aim of improving awareness and decision-making
• Ad-hoc projects at both finance and operational level
• Ensuring systems and integrations are working as planned and we are maximising functionality
• Devising and implementing appropriate policies
• Supporting the Group Finance Director on providing strategic analysis and reporting to SLT and The Board
• Day-to-day relationships with lenders and funders, including covenant compliance and robust cash forecasting
• Treasury management and debt management with our sales ledger accountant
• Ensuring suppliers are paid on time and statements reconciled with accuracy
• Ensuring all supplier discounts are received and reconciled to our purchasing activity
• Supporting team members and operations to improve the recording of bookwork at location level
• Supporting the management accounts team and finance manager on any accounting queries
• Ensuring the team submits VAT Returns on time and accurately
• Ensuring VAT is being recorded in compliance with legislation
• Management of external audit and development and documentation of a strong internal controls framework to support rapid future growth
• Ownership of statutory accounts and tax filings in the UK and overseas – working with accountancy firms to ensure compliance and efficient taxation management
• Preparation of statutory consolidation and cash flow
• Reviewing and supporting the team in preparing ten monthly company management accounts
• Preparation of accurate monthly consolidated management accounts
• Completing complex client monthly accounts
• Deep analysis of poor performing accounts to support the business in commercial decisions
• Supporting Regional Directors on financial analysis for key clients and presentations
• Ensuring we deliver on a month-end timeline of 9 days for Client Accounts and 11 days for Company
• Ensuring the client budgets for various models are kept up to date and accurate with legislative changes and inflation
• Reporting against budget and forecast with analysis of variances
• Supporting Finance Manager on ensuring all balance sheet accounts are reconciled and reviewed monthly

• An individual who strives for improvement in reporting, processes and controls
• A leader and motivational character
• Strives working under pressure to multiple priorities
• Highly organised with ability to prioritise departmental objectives
• Commercially minded with previous experience of supporting SLT/Board
• Strong interpersonal skills, comfortable in speaking to internal and external stakeholders

• Fully qualified (ACCA / ACA) – 5 years post qualified experience
• At least 10 years of accounting experience with 5 years in management
• Proficient in using Microsoft Excel
• Ideal but not essential: Microsoft Business Central experience
• Hospitality or catering industry experience
• Experience working within a top 20 accountancy firm

• 23 days holiday + bank holidays (increases to 25 after 5 years’ service)
• Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Unrivalled individual training and development.
• Well established apprenticeship programme.
• Hybrid Working.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role. An enhanced DBS, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind-over must be declared.

We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.