Financial Controller

A leading organisation is seeking a Financial Controller to join their finance team based in Hemel Hempstead. This role offers an exciting opportunity for you to play a pivotal part in shaping financial strategy and supporting business growth, with a focus on high-quality management accounting and advanced financial planning. You will enjoy flexible working arrangements, including three days office-based, and a competitive salary of £75,000.

What you'll do:

As Financial Controller you will be at the heart of the finance function-partnering closely with commercial teams to optimise business performance through insightful analysis. Your day-to-day will involve managing month-end processes with precision; producing detailed management accounts; overseeing transactional finance operations; monitoring cash flow; supporting budgeting cycles; conducting scenario modelling; resolving system discrepancies; enhancing reporting tools; ensuring compliance; assisting audits; handling credit control; processing ledgers; managing assets; administering purchase orders; covering other accounting functions when needed. Success in this role means leveraging your analytical skills to deliver reliable information that informs strategic decisions while nurturing collaborative relationships across departments. You will champion continuous improvement by identifying efficiencies in systems and processes-ensuring transparency throughout all financial operations.

• Manage the month end close process ensuring accurate and timely production of management accounts including profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.
• Deliver comprehensive variance analysis that explains key performance drivers and impacts, continuously improving reporting clarity and relevance for stakeholders.
• Support annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and long-range planning processes by developing robust financial models and scenario analyses to assess risks, opportunities, and investment decisions.
• Act as a trusted finance business partner to heads of departments and budget holders by executing performance analysis on pricing, cost management, profitability, and investment appraisal.
• Assist the Finance Director with internal and external information requests while maintaining strong financial control and compliance across organisational resources.
• Monitor and analyse cash flow and working capital drivers, supporting initiatives to optimise cash generation and resource allocation through forward-looking cash forecasts.
• Oversee demand management activities within supply chain sales demand forecasting, active inventory management, stock control, timely supply chain stock ordering, and maintenance of accurate material data.
• Identify data discrepancies between systems and resolve them efficiently while improving finance processes, tools, and planning systems to enhance efficiency and insight.
• Drive standardisation and automation of finance reporting while supporting SAP ERP system maintenance and development for enhanced financial operations.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and standards by supporting audit processes, maintaining integrity of financial data, documenting procedures relevant to internal controls, debt collection/credit control, general ledger processing accounting, purchase ledger processing accounting, sales ledger processing accounting, fixed asset accounting, administrator duties for purchase order system and online expenses function.

What you bring:

The ideal Financial Controller brings extensive experience in management accounting combined with advanced knowledge of financial planning. Your background includes graduate-level education in finance or business complemented by strong A level results. Professional qualifications such as CIMA are highly regarded alongside at least five years' post-qualification experience in similar roles. You possess exceptional communication abilities-both written and verbal-enabling you to connect effectively across departments. Your proficiency in MS Office ensures seamless reporting while your analytical mindset allows you to interpret complex data accurately. You thrive in collaborative environments where teamwork is celebrated; you take personal responsibility for your actions; embrace open feedback; support others' development; adapt flexibly to change; drive improvements through smart risk-taking. Your interpersonal skills foster trust among colleagues as you contribute positively towards achieving organisational goals.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates