Finance Manager

Job Summary

We are seeking a hands-on Finance Manager to become the first dedicated finance hire within a growing UK/US media group.

This is a broad, end-to-end finance role suited to someone who is equally comfortable managing day-to-day financial operations and delivering high-quality management reporting, cash-flow forecasting, compliance and financial analysis.

During the first six months, transaction volumes are expected to be relatively low. The Finance Manager will therefore take direct ownership of bookkeeping, expenses, reconciliations, payments and payroll administration, alongside month-end reporting, statutory compliance and audit coordination.

Working closely with the CFO and senior leadership team, the Finance Manager will help ensure the Group maintains strong financial controls and visibility while supporting its strategic and growth objectives.

As the business expands, the role will develop in scope, providing an opportunity to improve financial processes and systems and, over time, help build a broader finance function and the finance team.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations

• Take ownership of day-to-day bookkeeping and maintain complete and accurate accounting records across the Group.
• Manage accounts payable and receivable, including invoices, employee expenses, reimbursements, payment schedules and collections.
• Prepare bank and balance sheet reconciliations and maintain appropriate supporting documentation and financial records.
• Coordinate payroll administration, ensuring accurate records and compliance with PAYE, pension and other relevant requirements.

Financial Reporting & Management

• Produce timely and accurate monthly management accounts, consolidated Group reporting and financial information for the Board and senior management.
• Manage the month-end close, including journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting and financial planning, and provide analysis to support commercial and management decision-making.
• Prepare and maintain short- and medium-term cash-flow forecasts, monitoring liquidity, working capital, debt facilities and covenant requirements where applicable.
• Coordinate the preparation of annual statutory accounts in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

Tax, Compliance & Controls

• Maintain oversight of statutory, regulatory and tax deadlines across the Group, including VAT, PAYE, Companies House and HMRC requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve finance policies, procedures and internal controls to support accurate reporting, compliance and effective financial management.

Audit & External Advisers

• Coordinate UK and US audit requirements, including the preparation of audit schedules, supporting documentation and responses to audit queries.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with external accountants, auditors, tax advisers, banks and other professional advisers, and support the implementation of agreed recommendations.

Business Growth, Corporate Activity & Systems

• Support the CFO and senior leadership team with financial information and analysis for fundraising, refinancing, acquisitions and other corporate activity.
• Assist with investor and lender reporting and other external financial information requirements.
• Identify and implement improvements to finance processes, management reporting and accounting systems, including supporting future ERP or finance-system implementations.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified or part-qualified, or equivalent, with at least five years of relevant accounting and finance experience.
• Strong working knowledge of UK accounting standards, taxation and statutory compliance, together with an understanding of IFRS and US GAAP and exposure to UK/US group requirements.
• Demonstrable experience independently managing month-end close and producing management accounts, including journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Experience preparing cash-flow forecasts and working with external accountants, auditors and/or tax advisers.
• Strong accounting systems experience, such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or equivalent, combined with advanced Excel skills and the ability to produce financial models, reporting schedules and management information.
• Comfortable working independently, taking ownership of a broad finance function and remaining personally involved in transactional finance alongside management reporting and financial analysis.

Desirable

• Experience within a growing SME, owner-managed, entrepreneurial or private equity-backed business, ideally within media or a related sector.
• Experience with multi-entity consolidation, treasury, debt facilities and/or covenant reporting.
• Exposure to fundraising, refinancing, acquisitions or other corporate transactions.
• Experience implementing or improving ERP, accounting or finance systems.

Personal Attributes

• Hands-on, practical and commercially minded, with a willingness to take ownership and work independently.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented, with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Confident working directly with senior management and able to communicate financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Proactive, adaptable and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving business environment, with high standards of integrity and professionalism.

Location & Working Arrangements

This is a London-based role requiring reliable travel to the W1J area. Standard working hours are 9:00 am–6:00 pm, with one work-from-home day per week.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide two checkable professional references.

This job description sets out the principal responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive. The successful candidate may be required to undertake other reasonable duties to support the needs and growth of the business.