Financial Controller

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Founded in 2020, ACUA Ocean is a fast-growing, Plymouth-based maritime technology company at the forefront of maritime autonomy and low-emission propulsion. We design, build and operate uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) that deliver ocean data collection, monitoring and maritime security capabilities for the defence, offshore energy and marine conservation sectors.

Our first vessel, USV Pioneer, is a 14m Pioneer-class SWATH (small water plane area twin hull) USV with hybrid-electric propulsion, designed to stay stable in higher sea states while carrying modular sensor and system payloads. In 2025 USV Pioneer became the UK's first uncrewed vessel to be certified under the MCA Workboat Code 3, controlled from our Remote Operations Centre (ROC) in Plymouth.

With further Pioneer-class vessels and larger platforms in development, we are hiring a Financial Controller to join our business operations function, supporting company growth.

A successful candidate must be a team player with a passion for sharing knowledge and be ready to be at the grassroots of this growing business, supporting the growth of a robust and diverse team.

The Financial Controller owns the integrity of the company's numbers and the controls behind them. You will run the finance function day to day, so that the CFO, the board and our investors can rely on what they are told about margin, cash and project performance.

Hardware finance is different from software finance. Cash is tied up in stock and work in progress, contracts run for months or years, and a large share of spend is R&D that is part funded by grants and tax relief. We need a controller who understands how a product is engineered and built, and who will work alongside engineering, operations and programme teams as well as in the ledger.

• Own the month-end close and deliver management accounts with variance commentary within 5 working days.
• Prepare the monthly board pack with the CFO, including KPIs, cash position and project margin.
• Prepare statutory accounts under FRS 102 and lead the year-end audit.
• Maintain the balance sheet, with every account reconciled and reviewed monthly.
• Design, document and maintain internal controls, delegated authorities and finance policies.

• Run project accounting for customer contracts and internal development programmes, covering cost to complete, margin and WIP.
• Apply revenue recognition on long-term contracts, including milestone and percentage-of-completion methods.
• Review project forecasts monthly with programme managers and challenge estimates.
• Support bid pricing and commercial terms, including payment milestones, retentions and FX exposure.

• Own stock and WIP valuation, standard costs, BOM cost roll-ups and overhead absorption rates.
• Lead stock counts and maintain provisions for obsolete, slow-moving and prototype stock.
• Maintain the fixed asset register and control capex against budget.
• Apply the policy on capitalising costs and review it each year.

• Maintain the 13-week cash flow forecast and the rolling 12-month forecast.
• Manage working capital: customer milestones and collections, supplier terms and deposits on long lead-time items.
• Support banking relationships, FX and any debt facility covenants.

• Lead the annual budget and quarterly re-forecasts with budget holders.
• Give engineering, operations and supply chain leads clear monthly cost reporting.
• Support fundraising and due diligence with data room material and historical analysis.

• Manage VAT, PAYE, corporation tax and customs duty compliance with external advisers.
• Prepare the R&D tax relief claim, working with engineering to evidence qualifying activity.
• Manage grant claims and audits (e.g. Innovate UK), including timesheet and cost eligibility records.
• Oversee payroll, pensions and share scheme reporting.
• Support export control and customs requirements with operations where they affect finance.

• Own the finance system and its integration with information systems, and lead improvements as the company scales.
• Automate routine reporting and shorten the close.
• Lead, coach and develop the finance team as the company scales.
• Deploy new control frameworks and digital solutions to automate and optimise the function.

• Qualified accountant…