Financial Controller in Barnsley

Sheffield City Centre (office-based and hybrid)

Salary: £75,000 - £85,000

Reporting to the Finance Director, the Financial Controller is accountable for the day to day authority, stability, and performance of the finance function. This is a highly people led role with significant responsibility for leading, developing and performance managing a multilayered finance team, while ensuring robust financial control, consistency and resilience as the business continues to scale.

You will have direct accountability for the day to day running of finance, leading a team that includes Management Accountants, AP team, an Assistant Accountant, and a Billing and Collections Manager with their own team. You will bring clarity, structure, and exacting standards, ensuring the function operates smoothly through periods of growth and change, while acting as a trusted partner to the Finance Director, CFO, and senior stakeholders across the business.

Alongside people leadership and financial control, you will play a key role in the oversight and evolution of core finance systems and data flows, supporting automation, integration and system change as the business scales. This role is suited to a confident finance leader who enjoys being hands on, thrives on people leadership, and is comfortable operating at pace within a PE backed, growth focused organisation.

• Finance leadership

Act as the senior operational lead for the finance function, setting clear direction, expectations, and standards. Direct line management of:

• 2 x Management Accountants (including oversight of the AP team of five via one of these roles)
• Assistant Accountant
• Billing & Collections Manager (who manages a team of two)

Ensure effective workload planning, prioritisation, and resilience across the finance team. Coach, develop and performance manage team members, building capability, accountability, and succession. Create a positive, high performing and collaborative team culture, acting as a visible and trusted leader.

• Full ownership of the monthly close process, ensuring timely, accurate and consistent management accounts.
• Review and challenge management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Prepare high quality financial commentary and analysis for the Finance Director, CFO, and wider leadership team.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, payment approvals, working capital management and credit control escalation.
• Own delivery of finance outputs, working within established governance and senior sign off processes.

• Act as a senior finance partner to department heads, supporting budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insight for non finance stakeholders.
• Support the Finance Director with board reporting, investor reporting, and ad hoc commercial analysis.
• Work closely with FP&A colleagues to ensure financial reporting, forecasting and performance insight are aligned, while maintaining clear accountability for financial control and delivery.

• Provide operational ownership and oversight of core finance systems, including Sage Intacct and integrations with upstream systems such as Salesforce.
• Lead or support finance led system upgrades, process redesign and automation initiatives as the business evolves and scales.
• Ensure data integrity, robust controls and effective end-to-end finance processes across billing, revenue, collections, and reporting.
• Work closely with Technology and Operations teams to improve system capability, reporting efficiency and scalability.

• Drive consistency, discipline and continuous improvement across finance processes and controls.
• Act as the primary operational contact for external auditors, owning year end preparation and audit delivery.
• Support the Finance Director and CFO through funding rounds, audits, acquisitions, and integration activity.
• Ensure the finance function remains operationally robust, well governed, and scalable as the business grows.

Essential:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with demonstrable experience operating as a Financial Controller or equivalent senior operational finance lead within a complex or scaling organisation.
• Proven track record of owning and delivering day to day finance operations in a senior role, with accountability for management accounts, financial control, audit readiness, and governance.
• Significant experience leading a multi layered finance team, including managing managers, setting clear expectations, and maintaining exacting standards across the function.
• Experience operating within an established finance leadership structure, working closely with Finance Directors and CFOs, and contributing confidently at a senior level.
• Strong commercial judgement and confidence to take ownership, make decisions and operate with authority in a fast paced, growth focused environment.
• Experience overseeing core finance systems and data integrity, with exposure to system change, automation, or process improvement initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the credibility to partner senior leaders across the business.

Preferrable:

• Experience delivering finance transformation in partnership with Technology teams, including ERP and core finance systems upgrade or optimisation.
• Experience with Sage Intacct, Salesforce, or similar ERP / CRM integrated finance environments.

At UniHomes, we’re on a mission to transform the entire student rental experience across the UK. As the market-leading student accommodation advertising platform and utility management service provider, we make finding and securing all-inclusive student accommodation simple, seamless, and stress-free.

Since launching in 2015, we’ve experienced rapid growth. Today, we operate in 60+ cities, partner with 1,000+ agents and operators, and are backed by Macquarie Capital and LDC. Our success has been recognised with accolades from EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, The Negotiator Awards, and Great Place to Work® certification.

Our 140+ strong team is based in the heart of Sheffield City Centre, where we’re driving innovation, expanding into new markets, and fostering a culture built on collaboration, creativity, and growth.

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and help redefine how students find their perfect home, now is the time to join UniHomes. Be part of a team that’s opening new doors to better experiences, brighter ideas, and stress-free living.

We are a team driven and united by our core values:

• Lead the Way
• In it Together
• Customers Matter
• Keep it Simple
• Rise Above Challenges
• Make it Happen

What do you get when you work here?

With people and culture at the heart of our organisation, we are continually enhancing our employee offer and culture. We are incredibly proud to have been officially certified as a Great Place to Work® (GPTW®) and an accredited Living Wage employer - all our employees earn a fair living wage above the government minimum wage.

Working in our stunning new office at New Era Square in the centre of Sheffield, you will get complimentary breakfast, hot & cold drinks, snacks, pool table, holidays, length of service days, voluntary day, enhanced pension scheme, pension salary sacrifice scheme, healthcare scheme, Employee Assistant Programme, sick pay, enhanced maternity & paternity pay, career progression, a commitment to personal and professional development, employee of the month award, refer a friend scheme, staff discounts, mental health and financial support, and company social events.

At UniHomes we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone can thrive and which values individuals for their unique perspectives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to make the recruitment process more accessible to you.

Applicants must already have the permanent and unrestricted right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship as we do not hold a sponsor licence.

We want to hear your unique voice in your application. We love AI, but relying on it solely to write your cover letter and answer the application questions is a missed opportunity to showcase the originality and personality that will make you stand out. Show us the real you.

We do not accept CV submissions from recruitment agencies. Direct applications from individual candidates are encouraged. Thank you for your understanding.