Job Description
Hays Senior Finance is working in partnership with a well-established wholesale, retail and distribution organisation to appoint a Financial Controller to a newly enhanced senior leadership position.
Reporting directly to the Finance Director, this role represents the Number 2 position within Finance, offering significant exposure at executive level and the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making across a multi-site, multi-entity operation.
The opportunity
This is a senior Financial Controller role combining strong technical controllership with commercial and strategic partnering. The successful applicant will play a key role in strengthening financial governance, improving insight and supporting the continued development and scalability of the business. The role is well suited to an experienced, qualified finance leader from a wholesale, retail, distribution, manufacturing or similar fast-paced, high volume environment. And someone who is comfortable operating at both a strategic and hands-on level.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead financial control and reporting across multiple trading entities and sites
- Produce timely, accurate monthly management accounts, group reporting and analysis
- Own balance sheet integrity, cash flow forecasting and working capital management
- Lead statutory accounts preparation and manage the year-end audit process
- Act as a key business partner to the FD, executive team and senior operational leaders
- Provide commercial insight into margin, pricing, stock, logistics and cost performance
- Support strategic initiatives including growth, systems improvement, integration and change
- Ensure consistent financial processes, controls and governance across the group
- Lead, develop and mentor a high-performing finance team
- Drive continuous improvement across finance systems, reporting and processes
Essential criteria
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
- Proven experience operating at Financial Controller or Senior Finance Manager level
- Background within wholesale, retail, distribution, FMCG or supply-chain-led businesses
- Demonstrable experience managing multi-site and multi-entity environments
- Strong technical accounting, reporting and audit experience
- Commercially focused with the ability to influence at executive and board level
- Experience partnering with operational leaders within complex, fast-paced organisations
- Comfortable balancing strategic leadership with hands-on delivery
- Salary up to £90,000 depending on experience + benefits, car, bonus, healthcare, pension etc
- Hybrid working: 4 days on-site, 1 day remote
- True No.2 finance role with executive exposure
- Opportunity to shape and influence finance within a growing, operationally complex business
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