The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a commercially focused Financial Controller to join a privately owned distribution business. This is a highly hands-on leadership role with full responsibility for day-to-day financial management, control, and reporting.
Working closely with the Managing Director and Board, you will deliver accurate monthly management accounts and commercially insightful business intelligence, with a particular focus on contract revenue, install base analysis, service income, and audit readiness.
This role would suit a qualified accountant who thrives in an SME environment, enjoys being close to the business, and wants to influence outcomes rather than operate purely as a technical accounting specialist.
Role Purpose
The Financial Controller will ensure financial discipline, transparency, and insight to support strategic decision-making and investor confidence. The role combines strong financial control with commercial partnership across sales, service, and operations.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Control & Reporting
Deliver monthly forecasts, sales KPIs, and management reports to the Board
Ensure timely and accurate month-end close with clear variance analysis
Oversee monthly management accounts (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
Manage budgeting, forecasting, and rolling reforecast processes
Maintain liquidity oversight and robust cash flow management
Support statutory accounts preparation and year-end processes
Assist the MD and quality team in maintaining the Integrated Management System (IMS)
Business Intelligence & Commercial Insight
Produce monthly board packs including:
Revenue and margin analysis across equipment sales, service contracts, and support activities
Recurring vs non-recurring revenue tracking
Contract backlog and renewals
KPI dashboards covering growth, profitability, and cash performance
Translate financial data into clear, commercially relevant insight
Provide ad-hoc analysis to inform pricing, investment, and resourcing decisions
Contract & Service Revenue Management
Own financial oversight of contract and service revenue, including:
Revenue recognition and billing accuracy
Deferred income and contract liabilities
Service contract profitability and utilisation analysis
Partner with sales, service, and operations teams to improve margins and performance
Support contract renewals, pricing reviews, and service attach rate analysis
Audit, Compliance & Risk
Lead statutory audits and support investor and customer audits
Ensure compliance with accounting standards, tax requirements, and internal controls
Maintain audit-ready documentation and processes throughout the year
Engage confidently with customer audits
Cash Flow & Working Capital
Manage cash flow forecasting and reporting
Drive working capital improvements across receivables, payables, and inventory
Support credit control and debtor management processes
Develop business cases to support infrastructure and growth investments
Systems, Process & Team Leadership
Manage and develop the accounts function
Improve financial systems, controls, and processes to enable growth
Work closely with external accountants, auditors, and tax advisors
Partner with non-finance teams to improve financial understanding and accountability
Support the MD with internal HR matters and maintain HR documentation (with external HR support)
Key Skills & Experience
Essential
Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
Proven experience in a hands-on Financial Controller or senior finance role within an SME or owner-managed business
Strong experience delivering insight-driven monthly reporting to MD and Board level
Commercially grounded experience with contract, recurring, and service-led revenue models
Demonstrable expertise in:
Margin and profitability analysis
Contract performance and renewal economics
Practical revenue recognition
Experience owning live budgeting, forecasting, and rolling reforecast processes
Track record of partnering with sales, service, and operations teams to improve pricing, margins, and recurring revenue
Experience leading audits efficiently and proportionately
Strong working knowledge of cash flow management and working capital optimisation
Highly Desirable
Background in technical, equipment-led, or service-intensive B2B environments
Experience in privately owned or investor-backed businesses
Exposure to pricing strategy, contract renewals, and commercial negotiations
Proven ability to improve systems and processes to support growth
Comfort operating broadly within an SME environment, including light HR support
Personal Attributes
Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly organised
Commercially aware and analytically strong
Confident communicator with non-finance stakeholders
Comfortable working directly with a Managing Director and Board
Pragmatic, proactive, and solutions-focused
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