Financial Controller - North East England

An established and growing SME operating within a group structure is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to lead and develop its finance function within a commercially focused environment.

The organisation is operationally driven and committed to disciplined financial management to support sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and improved margin performance.

Reporting to senior leadership and forming part of the Senior Leadership Team, this role holds full responsibility for financial control, reporting, governance, and commercial finance support across the business.

The Financial Controller will combine strong technical accounting expertise with commercial awareness, ensuring robust financial reporting while partnering with operational leaders to improve performance and decision making.

This is a hands‑on leadership role offering significant ownership and the opportunity to influence both financial strategy and day‑to‑day operations within a growing SME.

• Lead preparation of monthly management accounts with full variance analysis
• Prepare board‑level reporting packs and performance commentary
• Deliver annual statutory accounts in line with UK GAAP
• Lead budgeting and quarterly forecasting cycles
• Conduct scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis
• Provide detailed KPI reporting covering margin, productivity, and working capital
• Deliver advanced Excel‑based financial modelling and analysis

• Act as primary contact for external auditors
• Lead year‑end statutory audit process
• Maintain strong internal controls across all financial processes
• Ensure compliance with VAT, PAYE, Corporation Tax, Companies House, Pension Regulator requirements
• Maintain balance sheet integrity via structured reconciliation processes
• Oversee fixed asset register and depreciation policies
• Ensure company secretarial filings and statutory registers are maintained

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to group
• Manage intercompany reconciliations and transactions
• Oversee VAT returns for group entities
• Align local reporting standards with group requirements
• Liaise with group finance and external advisors on complex tax or structural matters

• Establish and review standard costing methodologies
• Set and review direct labour recovery rates
• Develop and maintain overhead absorption models
• Monitor labour utilisation, productivity and efficiency
• Analyse material, labour, and overhead variances
• Review scrap, yield, and production efficiency metrics
• Conduct product and customer profitability analysis
• Partner with Operations and Procurement to improve cost visibility and margin

• Produce rolling cash flow forecasts
• Oversee debtor management and credit control
• Approve credit limits and monitor debtor ageing
• Supervise invoice finance facility reporting and reconciliations
• Ensure compliance with lender covenants
• Maintain strong banking relationships
• Review creditor payments and authorise BACS runs

• Oversee inventory valuation methodology
• Review stock provisions and obsolescence reserves
• Monitor stock turns and working capital exposure
• Ensure accurate month‑end stock reconciliation
• Collaborate with operations to improve stock accuracy

• Oversee outsourced payroll provider
• Review payroll prior to submission
• Ensure compliance with Pension auto‑enrolment, P11
  
  Ds, Apprenticeship levy reporting
• Administer salary sacrifice schemes
• Oversee employee expense controls and credit card management
• Ensure accurate HR‑related financial reporting

• Manage corporate insurance renewals and claims
• Review policy coverage and negotiate premiums
• Oversee motor fleet compliance and financial reporting
• Lead Cap Ex approval process
• Develop investment appraisals and ROI analysis
• Ensure strategic alignment of investment decisions

• Support pricing models and tender submissions
• Provide margin analysis for new contracts
• Deliver financial…