Financial Controller - #2177864

Job Title: Financial Controller

Location: Liverpool (Hybrid)

Salary: £80,000-£100,000 + Bonus

Reporting to: CFO

About the Company

Our client is an established, private equity-backed service business with an ambitious growth strategy. With an established commercial offering and a lean, entrepreneurial team, the organisation is focused on its next phase of development and offers an environment where individuals can make a meaningful impact. The business is looking to strengthen its finance function as it continues to grow, creating an opportunity for an ambitious finance professional to play a key role in its future success.

The Role

This is a newly created, hands-on role where you will take ownership of the finance function, providing robust financial reporting, forecasting and commercial insight to support business performance and strategic decision-making. This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual, offering a direct route to CFO. With the guidance from an experienced CFO, you will gain significant responsibility, senior-level exposure and take on the full breadth of their remit across reporting, tax, Board and investor engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting and Planning

• Take ownership of the month-end close, delivering accurate and timely management accounts.
• Prepare monthly profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow reports, providing clear commentary of performance against budget and forecast.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, working capital management and banking relationships.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and maintain rolling forecasts to support business planning.

Commercial Analysis and Performance

• Monitor and report on key business performance indicators, providing insight into revenue trends, customer retention and overall commercial performance.
• Ensure accurate revenue recognition across customer agreements and maintain appropriate oversight of contractual arrangements.
• Translate financial and operational data into actionable insights to inform pricing, sales performance and customer retention strategies.

Board and Investor Reporting

• Prepare monthly Board packs and investor reports, ensuring accurate and insightful financial information.
• Present financial performance, highlighting key trends, risks, opportunities and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.

Statutory Accounts and Tax

• Prepare group statutory accounts in accordance with FRS 102.
• Manage the year-end accounts process, liaising with external accountants and auditors.
• Oversee tax and compliance obligations, including VAT, PAYE, corporation tax computations and returns.
• Lead the annual R&D tax relief claim, working with relevant teams to identify and document qualifying activities.

Commercial and Operational Support

• Oversee payroll, pensions and employee benefits.
• Review and negotiate customer, supplier and partner agreements, supporting the commercial team with pricing and contractual terms.

Team Leadership and Process Improvement

• Manage and develop a junior finance team member.
• Identify and implement improvements to financial processes, internal controls and reporting systems.
• Drive operational efficiencies and develop scalable finance processes to support the company's continued growth.

About You

• ACA, ACCA qualified accountant, ideally practice trained.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in a senior finance role.
• Strong technical knowledge of FRS 102, statutory accounts, corporation tax and audit.
• Proven ability to produce accurate management accounts, financial analysis and Board-level reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using cloud-based accounting systems.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
• A proactive, commercially minded approach, with the confidence to take ownership beyond traditional finance responsibilities.
• Experience within a technology-led business.
• Exposure to private equity-backed or high-growth businesses.