Financial Controller

I am currently partnering with a dynamic, scaling service-based business to appoint a hands-on Financial Controller. This is a high-impact leadership role, perfect for a finance professional who thrives in "real-world" operational environments and enjoys the challenge of managing financial discipline across a large-scale workforce.

As the right hand to the CEO and the operational leadership team, you will be the guardian of the company’s margins. In a business where labour is the primary cost driver, your ability to oversee high-volume payroll and interrogate labour costs will be the key to the company’s continued success.

My client’s Hatfield head office boasts a culture that perfectly balances hard work with a great sense of humour. They are looking for a "personality fit"—someone who is approachable, collaborative, and brings high energy to the office every day.

Due to the highly operational nature of this business, this is a fully office-based role, allowing you to be at the heart of the action and collaborate directly with the teams you support.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive financial discipline across a large operational workforce (c.3,000 employees).
• Oversee complex, multi-cycle payroll operations (weekly, fortnightly, and monthly), ensuring total accuracy and robust control.
• Actively monitor labour costs against contract budgets. You will be expected to investigate variances, challenge "margin erosion," and highlight anomalies in overtime or excess hours.
• Prepare monthly management accounts that provide genuine commercial insight into contract profitability.
• Lead and develop an established finance function, including payroll, purchase ledger, and credit control.
• Financial management of the company vehicle fleet, focusing on fuel, leasing, and maintenance efficiency.

The Ideal Candidate:

We are looking for a commercially astute, qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or a highly seasoned Financial Controller who isn't afraid to get stuck into the detail.

• We are looking for a commercially astute, qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or a highly seasoned Financial Controller who isn't afraid to get stuck into the detail.
• You must be comfortable overseeing high-volume payroll environments and implementing rigorous approval processes.
• The ability to work closely with operational teams to challenge cost performance and drive process improvements.
• A natural inclination to identify opportunities for automation and better financial reporting.

Benefits:

• 28 Days Holiday Inc. Bank Holidays
• An additional day of annual leave to celebrate your birthday!
• Performance Bonus
• Pension & Benefits
• Company events
• Paid volunteering day
• Health & wellbeing programme

Despite our best efforts it is not always possible to respond to every application individually due to the high volume of responses we receive on each vacancy. Only candidates who are short listed will be contacted for this particular role and if you have not heard from us within 7 days please assume that you have not been successful. However, we will keep your details on our database, and will contact you when other suitable positions become available.