Financial Reporting Manager; maternity cover

Job opportunity: Financial Reporting Manager (12 month maternity cover)

Working pattern: 40 per week, hybrid working with min 2 days per week in office

Location: Vitacress Herbs, Lagness Road, Runcton, Chichester PO20 1LJ

Salary: competitive, dependant on experience

Are you an IFRS expert who enjoys turning complex financial data into clear business insight? Do you thrive on improving controls, processes and reporting standards while leading and developing others? Are you looking for a role where you can influence decision‑making, partner with senior leaders and drive continuous improvement? We're looking for a Financial Reporting Manager to ensure our Herbs Business Unit meets all financial reporting obligations through robust processes, strong controls and accurate, timely reporting.

Working closely with the Head of Finance, Group Finance and the wider business, you'll play a key role in maintaining financial integrity, supporting strategic decision‑making and driving best practice across the finance function. At Vitacress, we're driven by a commitment to quality, continuous improvement and delivering results. If you're a technically strong finance professional who enjoys balancing detail with commercial impact and is looking for an opportunity to make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

• Lead the financial reporting activities for the Herbs Business Unit, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely delivery.
• Produce monthly management accounts and reporting packs for the senior management team.
• Act as the key finance contact for Group Finance and coordinate all monthly group reporting submissions.
• Drive financial control across the business by strengthening processes, controls and governance.
• Build strong relationships with operational teams and business stakeholders to provide financial support and insight.
• Lead, coach and develop the Purchase Ledger and Accounts Assistant teams.
• Ensure balance sheet integrity through effective reconciliation and review processes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance reporting quality, efficiency and compliance.

• Preparing monthly management accounts and group reporting submissions in line with agreed deadlines.
• Producing forecasting, budgeting, balance sheet and cashflow submissions for Group Finance.
• Managing the annual external audit process and acting as the primary contact for auditors.
• Supporting Group Finance with the preparation of statutory accounts and audit requirements.
• Maintaining the fixed asset register and ensuring accurate IFRS 16 lease reporting.
• Managing intercompany reconciliations and resolving balance and transaction queries across the group.
• Reviewing payroll and pension submissions and ensuring compliance with company processes.
• Working closely with procurement and Group Finance to support VAT compliance, import VAT reconciliations and adherence to HMRC postponed VAT accounting requirements.

• A strong working knowledge of IFRS and experience applying accounting standards in a commercial environment.
• Previous experience in a financial reporting, financial accounting or finance manager role.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing team members, including performance management and objective setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships across all levels of a business.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex financial information clearly and confidently.
• A proactive and solutions‑focused approach with a passion for improving processes and controls.
• Experience working with ERP systems and managing financial reporting processes.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, with…