Finance Controller

Location: Ayr Central

Finance Controller Location :
Hybrid - Southampton Salary : £65,000 - £90,000 DOE  Car Allowance Contract :
Full-time, Permanent DEKRA Entity: DEKRA UK Management (DUKM) Do you want to boost the future towards a safe, secure and sustainable world At DEKRA, safety isn't just what we do - it's who we are. As part of a global network of more than 49,000 professionals across over 60 countries, we help organisations in high-hazard and safety-critical industries prevent incidents, protect people and strengthen organisational safety and reliability.

We are now looking for an experienced Finance Controller to play a pivotal role within our UK Finance function, combining financial leadership, commercial insight and strong financial control to support performance, profitability and growth. A Day in the Life and the Impact You'll Make This is a senior, business-facing role where you'll act as a trusted finance partner to senior stakeholders across the business.

You'll lead the finance team, oversee monthly reporting and forecasting, support P&L owners with meaningful financial insight and take ownership of audit, statutory reporting and continuous improvement. You'll bring technical expertise alongside a hands-on, commercially minded approach, helping shape financial performance across DEKRA UK. What You'll Do
• Lead and develop the finance team, ensuring internal and external reporting deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Produce accurate monthly management accounts, including insightful variance analysis and commentary.
• Lead month-end and year-end close, including journals, balance sheet reconciliations and fixed asset control.
• Ensure group reporting and intercompany deadlines are met.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and support financial planning.
• Act as a finance business partner to P&L owners, providing clear and commercially relevant financial insight.
• Lead annual budgeting and periodic forecasting cycles.
• Analyse financial and non-financial data to support decision-making, profitability and growth.
• Own the annual audit process and act as the key liaison with external auditors.
• Ensure statutory accounts are prepared and filed within required deadlines.
• Review and improve accounting processes, controls and efficiencies.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and ensure compliance with accounting policies and governance standards.
• Contribute as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Work collaboratively across the business to drive continuous improvement. What You'll Bring
• Fully qualified accountant - ACCA, CIMA or ACA.
• Minimum 2 years' post-qualification experience.
• Proven experience managing and developing a finance team.
• Strong working knowledge of SAP.
• Experience working in a multi-entity or group reporting environment is desirable.
• Strong understanding of core accounting principles, particularly revenue accounting.
• Confident communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence finance and non-finance colleagues.
• A proactive, resilient and solutions-focused approach.
• The ability to combine technical financial expertise with strong commercial awareness.

Please note:

Due to the location of the role, you must live within approximately one hour's drive of our Southampton office. What Success Looks Like
• Monthly management accounts delivered accurately and on time.
• Reliable and insightful reporting for local and group stakeholders.
• A motivated, well-led and high-performing finance team.
• Strong financial controls and governance.
• Continuous improvement across finance processes and collaboration.
• Meaningful financial insight supporting business performance, profitability and growth. Why Join DEKRA You'll join…