Financial Controller

Location: Chippenham (Office Based)

Department: Finance

Reports to: Managing Director

Company Values

• Mutual Respect – Respect everyone’s time, decisions, and feelings.
• Step Up – Always seek ways to improve in your role and as a team.
• Think Team – Identify who to involve to expedite success.
• Own It – Take responsibility for decisions and see them through.
• Get Stuff Done – Prioritise effectively to deliver results and meet deadlines.

Role Purpose

We are seeking a commercially astute, hands-on Financial Controller to lead the finance function and support the business through its next phase of scaling and strategic growth. This role is instrumental in delivering financial excellence while enabling the company to meet its 30% YoY growth targets and prepare for potential private equity investment or exit readiness in the future.

The Financial Controller will take full ownership of all financial reporting, cash management, forecasting, tax, compliance, FX, and treasury operations, and lead the implementation of a new ERP system to support scale.

Managing a small team, including a Trainee Management Accountant and an Accounts Assistant, you will build a high-performance finance function capable of delivering accurate insight, strong control, and forward-thinking financial strategy.

This is a critical leadership position for someone who thrives in a growth-focused, hands-on, SME/scale-up environment.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership & Investment Readiness
• Financial Reporting, Forecasting & Compliance
• Operational Finance, FX & Treasury Management
• ERP Implementation & Systems Improvement
• Team Leadership & Development
• Business Partnering & Value Creation

Key Activities

1. Strategic Financial Leadership & Investment Readiness

• Lead the development of financial strategy aligned to growth ambitions.
• Partner with the MD on business planning, investment decisions, and potential future M&A or PE opportunities.
• Build investor-grade financial models, reporting packs, and scenario planning tools.
• Drive KPI development and financial dashboards to monitor business performance.

2. Financial Reporting, Forecasting & Compliance

• Full ownership of all internal and external financial reporting, including monthly management accounts, board packs, and statutory accounts.
• Deliver accurate, forward-looking cash flow forecasting and financial modelling.
• Ensure full tax compliance, including VAT, PAYE, and corporation tax.
• Own the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close and audit processes.
• Maintain robust financial controls, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

3. Operational Finance, FX & Treasury Management

• Manage day-to-day transactional finance (AP, AR, GL, reconciliations, banking).
• Lead treasury and cash management, ensuring sufficient liquidity and working capital.
• Manage foreign exchange risk, including 95% of COGS denominated in FX and 99% of sales in GBP, through proactive currency strategies and hedging where appropriate.
• Optimise working capital, improving supplier terms, inventory management, and debtor control.

4. ERP Implementation & Systems Improvement

• Lead the implementation of a new ERP system, from requirements gathering through to testing, training, and go-live.
• Drive automation and digitisation across all finance processes.
• Continually improve the speed, accuracy, and insight of financial data and reporting.
• Develop and embed scalable financial systems and procedures aligned with growth.

5. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Trainee Management Accountant and Accounts Assistant, creating a high-performance finance team.
• Set clear goals, delegate effectively, and foster a collaborative, solutions-focused culture.
• Champion learning and development, providing coaching and support for career progression.

6. Business Partnering & Value Creation

• Act as a trusted commercial partner to the MD and senior leadership.
• Provide insightful analysis to support decision-making on pricing, margins, investment, and cost control.
• Ensure finance is embedded as a strategic partner across the business.
• Support the company’s long-term value creation strategy and sustainable growth.

Skills & Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience leading a finance function in a high-growth SME or scale-up environment.
• Strong expertise in treasury, FX management, cash forecasting, and working capital control.
• Demonstrable experience of ERP system implementation and process automation.
• Strong technical and commercial reporting skills, with board-level communication experience.
• Exposure to private equity, investment readiness, or M&A environments is desirable.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Package & Benefits

• Company-wide bonus scheme (GBS)
• 25 days annual leave bank holidays birthday off
• LinkedIn Learning access
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employer pension contribution
• Quarterly reward and recognition scheme