Financial Controller

Financial Controller

Based in Colchester, this permanent, full-time Financial Controller position carries a salary of £50,000–£60,000 plus a management bonus. Working on an office-based basis, you will lead a small finance team and join the Senior Leadership Team. Your remit spans financial reporting, commercial finance, forecasting, and cash flow management. You will deliver precise reporting and commercial insight to guide business performance and strategic decisions.

The role requires strong leadership, analytical skill, and proficiency in managing end-to-end finance operations. You will take full ownership of the function, ensuring robust controls and supporting growth. This is a key appointment within an established organisation.

Financial Controller Colchester, Essex | £50,000–£60,000 + Management Bonus | Office-based | ASAP "Control your own destiny or someone else will." Jack Welch.

• Leading and developing a small finance team, ensuring a high standard of financial control and reporting.
• Owning the month-end close and producing timely management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow and WIP reporting.
• Preparing financial information for monthly Board and Group reporting, including meaningful variance analysis.
• Leading the annual budgeting process, rolling forecasts and short-term cash flow forecasting, while overseeing working capital management.
• Working closely with sales, estimating, production and project management teams to understand costs, margins and project performance.
• Providing commercial analysis to support pricing, capacity planning, capital investment and other key business decisions.
• Improving project costing, WIP and margin reporting to give greater visibility of performance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Leading finance improvement projects, including process automation, strengthening controls and improving the integration between finance systems.
• Managing year-end audit requirements and coordinating statutory, tax and VAT matters with external advisers.
• Contributing as a full member of the Senior Leadership Team, supporting wider business decisions beyond the finance function.

• A recognised accountancy qualification or be part-qualified, with ACA, ACCA or CIMA studies.
• Experience in a manufacturing, engineering, construction or other project-based environment, with an understanding of WIP, job costing and project margins.
• Proven experience of producing accurate management accounts to tight deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and balance sheet control.
• Experience of delivering finance process, reporting or system improvements.
• External audit experience and a good understanding of statutory and tax requirements.
• Strong Microsoft Excel modelling skills and a good working knowledge of Sage.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
• A proactive and commercially focused approach, with the confidence to challenge and support colleagues at all levels.

• Salary:
  Up to £60,000 per annum
• Management bonus scheme
• 25 days' annual leave , plus bank holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• Private medical insurance

Start date:

ASAP

You are required to be eligible to work in the UK full time without restriction.