Finance Manager / Financial Controller

Location: West London (Office-based initially)
Salary: £55,000 – £100,000 per annum
Reporting to: Managing Director / CFO / Board (depending on structure)
Type: Full-time, Permanent – 100% office based initially

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Finance Manager / Financial Controller to join a growing business solutions provider based in West London.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in stabilising and strengthening the finance function while driving improvements across financial reporting, controls, systems, processes and operational finance support.

This is a key finance leadership appointment within a private equity-backed, asset-backed operational business. The successful candidate will play a critical role in stabilising and strengthening the finance function while driving improvements across financial reporting, controls, systems, processes and operational finance support.

Alongside this recruitment process, an external review of the finance function is being undertaken. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to and help implement the resulting recommendations, making this an excellent opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys both operational leadership and business transformation.

The level of appointment remains flexible. We are open to considering:

• An experienced, hands-on Financial Controller seeking a broad leadership role.
• An experienced Financial or Management Accountant looking for a step up to a Finance Manager/FC role
• A high-potential newly qualified accountant with exceptional systems and process improvement capability.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control & Reporting

• Lead and manage the day-to-day finance function.
• Ensure timely and accurate production of monthly management accounts.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and maintain a robust month-end close process.
• Manage statutory accounts preparation and coordinate annual audits.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant accounting standards, tax requirements and regulatory obligations.
• Deliver high-quality financial reporting to senior management, shareholders and lenders.

Finance Function Improvement

• Review and strengthen financial controls, policies and procedures.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Support the implementation of recommendations arising from the external finance function review.
• Improve reporting capabilities, management information and KPI visibility.
• Drive finance systems optimisation and automation initiatives.

Commercial & Operational Finance

• Partner with operational teams to provide financial insight and support decision-making.
• Improve cost control, profitability analysis and financial performance monitoring.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management processes.
• Assist with pricing, contract evaluation and commercial decision support.
• Develop meaningful operational and financial KPIs across the business.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor and develop members of the finance team.
• Establish clear standards, accountability and best practice within the department.
• Build strong working relationships across all business functions.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and financial discipline.

Strategic Support

• Support the senior leadership team with financial analysis and business planning.
• Assist with lender, investor and shareholder reporting requirements.
• Contribute to strategic projects, acquisitions, integrations or operational initiatives as required.
• Play a key role in the ongoing professionalisation of the finance function.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a finance professional who combines strong technical accounting skills with a practical, hands-on approach and a genuine interest in improving how finance supports the wider business.

Essential Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience within/ or working with a private equity-backed business
• Experience working within operational, service-led, logistics, facilities management, outsourced services, asset-backed or similar environments.
• Demonstrable experience improving processes, controls and systems.
• Advanced Excel and financial systems capability.