Financial Controller

I am currently recruiting a Financial Controller for a professional services organisation based in the Manchester area. My client has completed two acquisitions in the past 8 months, with a further planned for this year.

The business is undergoing integration into a standardised finance environment, with a clear focus on building a scalable, data-driven operating model under a single entity brand.

With strong backing from a supportive private equity partner and a clear national growth strategy, this is a rare opportunity to play a key role in shaping the financial infrastructure of a high-growth business.

The Role:

As Financial Controller, you will report directly to the CFO and have full ownership of the day-to-day finance function, while acting as a strategic partner to the CFO and wider executive team.

This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced, acquisitive environment, requiring a combination of technical excellence, commercial awareness and operational delivery. Supporting the CFO’s focus on strategy, M&A and investor relations, the Financial Controller will ensure the finance function is robust, scalable and operating effectively at pace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and continuously improve the month-end close process, ensuring timely, accurate and audit-ready financial reporting
• Maintain full balance sheet integrity, with clear ownership, reconciliations and supporting documentation
• Lead the year-end audit process, acting as primary contact for auditors and ensuring a smooth, low-adjustment audit
• Oversee group consolidation and statutory reporting requirements

• Own cash flow forecasting, daily cash management and medium-term liquidity planning
• Drive improvements in working capital, including WIP, billing and debtor management

• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes, including development of annual operating and capital budgets
• Provide high-quality financial analysis and insight to support decision-making across the business

• Prepare and deliver the finance section of the monthly Board pack, including KPI reporting and performance analysis
• Own finance systems and data integrity, including development of scalable processes and reporting structures
• Support financial due diligence on acquisitions and assess financial implications of potential transactions

• Lead financial integration of acquired businesses, including systems migration, control alignment and reporting standardisation

• Deliver timely and accurate reporting to the Board, private equity investors and lenders
• Take ownership of lender covenant calculations and reporting
• Support the CFO in managing relationships with key stakeholders including investors, lenders, auditors and advisers

Key Requirements

• ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualified (or equivalent) with strong post-qualification experience
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality, timely financial reporting and maintaining robust financial controls in a scaling environment
• Experience within a professional services or business services environment (legal and regulatory sector experience strongly preferred)
• Strong understanding of WIP accounting, revenue recognition and working capital management
• Private equity experience preferred, ideally within a buy-and-build environment
• Demonstrated experience in financial due diligence and post-acquisition integration
• Strong finance systems capability, with experience improving or implementing finance or practice management systems
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels