Financial Controller

£45,000 - £55,000 | Scarborough | Hybrid working | Full-time or 4 days considered

Are you a Finance Manager ready to take the next step into a Financial Controller role?

Perhaps you're already managing the day-to-day finance function, producing management accounts, forecasting and supporting senior stakeholders, but you're ready for more ownership, greater commercial exposure and the opportunity to lead.

This could be that next step.

We're looking for a Financial Controller to join us here at Castle Employment Group, taking ownership of our day-to-day finance function and becoming a key financial partner to our Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team.

You don't need to already have Financial Controller on your CV. We're interested in the capability you've built and your readiness to take on greater responsibility.

You'll lead and develop our internal finance team while working closely with an experienced Fractional Finance Director, giving you the opportunity to broaden your financial leadership experience with senior-level coaching, support and challenge available when you need it.

It's a hands-on role with real influence. You'll be close to the numbers and the business, with the freedom to challenge how we do things, strengthen our financial controls and use technology and automation to make our finance function even better.

What you'll be doing

As our Financial Controller, you'll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of finance across Castle Employment Group.

Your role will include:

• Owning the monthly management accounts process, ensuring accurate and timely reporting
  
  
• Producing clear financial commentary around performance, variances, trends, risks and opportunities
  
  
• Managing budgets, rolling forecasts and cash flow forecasting
  
  
• Working with department leaders to review and challenge financial performance
  
  
• Providing financial information and commercial insight to our Senior Leadership Team
  
  
• Managing and developing our Assistant Accountant and senior payroll team member
  
  
• Overseeing our weekly temporary worker payroll, including controls, reconciliations and exceptions
  
  
• Maintaining strong financial controls across journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet reconciliations
  
  
• Overseeing credit control, aged debt, working capital and cash collection
  
  
• Supporting year-end accounts, VAT, PAYE, pensions and other statutory requirements
  
  
• Reviewing expenditure and identifying opportunities to improve cost control
  
  
• Improving finance and payroll processes, reporting and data flows
  
  
• Exploring opportunities to use automation, AI and technology to improve efficiency and accuracy
  
  
• Developing dashboards and management information to support better decision-making
  
  
• Providing hands-on finance and payroll support when required to ensure continuity across the function
  
  

You'll also work closely with our Fractional Finance Director on budgets, forecasts, Board reporting and strategic financial projects.

What we're looking for

This opportunity could suit an existing Financial Controller, but we're particularly interested in hearing from Finance Managers and experienced Management Accountants who are ready to step up.

You'll be CIMA, ACCA or ACA qualified or part-qualified, with strong management accounting knowledge and the confidence to take greater ownership of a finance function.

You'll need:

• Strong experience producing and reviewing management accounts
  
  
• A solid understanding of P&L, balance sheet and cash flow
  
  
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis
  
  
• Strong Excel and finance systems capability
  
  
• Experience improving finance processes and controls
  
  
• Experience managing or supervising people within a finance function
  
  
• The ability to interpret financial information and communicate it clearly to non-finance colleagues
  
  
• The confidence to work with and constructively challenge senior stakeholders
  
  
• Strong commercial awareness alongside attention to detail
  
  
• A willingness to remain hands-on and support the team when required
  
  

Experience within recruitment, staffing or professional services would be useful but isn't essential. Exposure to payroll, finance automation, AI, multi-company structures or labour-intensive businesses would also be advantageous.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is ready to take ownership, develop their leadership capability and make the Financial Controller role their own.

Salary, working hours and hybrid working

The salary is £45,000 - £55,000, depending on experience and capability.

Our standard working week is 37.5 hours, although we would also consider someone looking to work 4 days per week.

We offer hybrid working. Initially, you'll spend at least 3 days per week in our Scarborough office while you get to know Castle, your team and the wider business. There is potential for this to reduce further down the line.

What you'll get Alongside the opportunity to take a genuine step forward in your finance career, you'll receive:

• 23 days' holiday plus bank holidays
  
  
• Holiday buy and sell scheme
  
  
• Flexitime
  
  
• Annual pay reviews
  
  
• Death in service benefit
  
  
• Annual CSR day
  
  
• £1,000 flexible benefits allowance, with options including gym membership, holiday vouchers, technology and subscriptions
  
  
• Cycle to work scheme
  
  
• Car purchase scheme
  
  
• Hybrid working
  
  
• The opportunity to develop your financial leadership experience while working alongside an experienced Fractional Finance Director
  
  

Why join Castle Employment Group? This isn't a Financial Controller role we're recruiting for on behalf of a client. You'll be joining us here at Castle Employment Group.

You'll become part of a business where finance has a genuine voice and where the information, insight and challenge you provide can influence how we operate and make decisions.

You'll have the opportunity to lead our day-to-day finance function, develop your team and improve the way we work, while still having the support and strategic input of our Fractional Finance Director.

For a Finance Manager ready for more, this is an opportunity to take that next career step, broaden your responsibilities and establish yourself as a Financial Controller.

Ready to take the step from Finance Manager to Financial Controller?

We'd love to hear from you and tell you more about the opportunity and what it's like to work with us at Castle Employment Group.