Financial Controller

Axon Moore is exclusively partnering with a market-leading AIM listed business in the UK as they seek to hire an ambitious qualified finance professional to join the business as Financial Controller. This role reports into a high calibre and extremely driven Finance Director.

Salary - £70k - £75k + bonus
Location – South Manchester / Cheshire
Hybrid – 3 days in the office / 2 days from home

As the Financial Controller you will assumes overall responsibility for the services delivered by the finance team, including management of the day to day finance function with the provision of relevant and timely financial information to all stakeholders.

Main Duties:

Financial Reporting: Managing the preparation of key reporting requirements including half year and year end accounts and supporting analysis, including:

• Act as first line reviewer for financial reporting and raise initial queries with finance team
• regarding areas where further analysis or explanations are required
• Production of statutory accounts in accordance with IFRS & UK GAAP.
• Co-ordination and oversight of the external audit process and relationships (Financial
• Reporting Accountant manages actual audit and requests)

Management Reporting, Forecasting & Analysis: Managing the preparation of monthly actual and forecast financial information with supporting analysis, and the annual budget process:

• Assume responsibility for comprehensive timely management reporting including responsibility for the actual results and forecasts.
• Act as first line reviewer for financial reporting and raise initial queries with finance team regarding areas where further analysis or explanations are required.
• Ownership of the management accounts
• Coordination of the annual Budget process for the company.
• Analysis of daily, weekly, monthly and annual variances and data to provide senior management with timely insight and trends to improve the quality of forecasts and decision making.
• Regularly review the finance systems and processes to ensure they are sufficiently effective to generate fast and accurate reporting, KPIs and trend analysis on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Improving, streamlining and automating the reporting processes to enhance the quality and speed of production of Management Information to the Board or Business stakeholders.

Commercial challenge: Actively engage within the business to challenge performance and drive business improvement, including the proactive review and challenge of financial information which indicates adverse trends or areas which are significantly different to budgeted or forecast performance.

Treasury Management: Delivering cash flow and debt forecasting as well as improving working capital and cash management processes within the company, including:

• To prepare cashflow statements as part of the overall treasury management function.
• Enhance treasury policies & procedures including robust cash management systems and in particular establish and monitor weekly rolling cash flow and net debt forecasts.

Taxation: Acting as the key point of contact with Group and external taxation advisers to ensure that the company remains fully compliant, including:

• Preparing corporation tax and deferred tax calculations.
• Ensure compliance of corporation tax returns and payments.
• VAT compliance.
• Management of relationship with HMRC and group tax advisers.

Internal Control and Compliance: Provide oversight and input in to the monitoring of internal controls and compliance matters, including:

• Maintenance/updating of effective policies, procedures, controls and systems appropriate to company size and nature.
• To document the control processes and procedures within the business and identify control weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

M&A and Special Projects: Provide support to the Finance Director in managing the assessment and project management of M&A activity and special projects.

Finance Improvement: Identify areas of improvement within the Finance function and drive these forward either within own role or through team. Current projects include:

• Detailed site stock reconciliation production and full monthly analysis of processing gain
• Fixed Asset register review and file / process upgrade
• Improved commerciality and more accurate analysis of PSA’s (Sales contracts)
• Completion of management accounts COGNOS upgrade process
• Restoration of Geographic P&L process

Key performance indicators:

• Ensure Finance team is engaged, happy and performing well within each of their individual roles.
• Ensure all month end, management accounts, forecast, budget, half year and year end finance deliverables are completed on time and accurately.
• Ensure control environment within the company is constantly reviewed, challenged, and improved.
• Continuous improvement of finance and business process’s to achieve better control environments, more accurate or relevant reporting to better aid business decision making

Personl Specification:

• A qualified accountant (ACA/ ACCA/ CIMA) with several years post qualification industry experience
• Self-starter with a positive, can-do attitude, the ability to work to tight deadlines and balance your workload
• Evidence of strong inclusive team working approach and ability to work with non Finance staff
• Ability to coach, delegate to and develop others
• Strong relationship building skills
• Proactive decision maker who can positively influence change
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills
• Good time management and multi-tasking
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to take ownership and lead a team