Finance Manager

I am working with a Private Equity–backed organisation that is expanding rapidly through organic growth and M&A activitiy.

As part of this expansion, the finance function is needing to develop quickly Working directly as the right hand to the Finance Director, as Finance Manager you will be the key operational driver who stands up, owns, and runs the entire accounting engine of the business.

This is a hands–on, broad role for a qualified accountant who wants true ownership, visibility, and the chance to design processes and controls from scratch–not just follow pre–existing playbooks.

Key Responsibilities:

• General Ledger & Month–End: Own the GL end–to–end, maintaining overall integrity of accounting records. Run month–end close processes, complete complex balance sheet/bank/control account reconciliations, manage intercompany transactions, and maintain clean audit trails.
• Fixed Assets & Capex: Act as the subject matter expert for fixed–asset accounting across a rapidly growing asset estate. Apply capitalisation policies, maintain the fixed–asset register, manage depreciation/disposals, track capex against budget, and deliver ROI/asset data for Group reporting.
• Ledger Management (AP/AR): Oversee supplier onboarding, invoice processing, and payment runs. Raise carrier/partner invoicing, manage credit control, reconcile statements, and handle employee expenses.
• Tax & Statutory Compliance: Prepare and submit timely VAT returns, ensure compliance across HMRC, Companies House, and PAYE, and liaise with external advisors on year–end and corporation tax.
• Systems & Process Design: Assist in selecting, implementing, and administering core ERP/accounting and reconciliation software–prioritising automation over manual processes. Build robust internal controls and workflows.

Essential Criteria:

• Qualification: ACA or ACCA qualified (Chartered Accountant mandatory).
• Technical Mastery: Proven expertise in owning the GL, month–end close, and complex reconciliations.
• Fixed Assets / Capex: Hands–on experience with capitalisation policies, depreciation, and asset registers–ideally within an asset–heavy environment.
• Tax & Ledgers: Working knowledge of UK VAT, HMRC compliance, purchase/sales ledger management, and payment workflows.
• Mindset: A builder mentality–comfortable with ambiguity, startup pace, and setting up new processes before running them day–to–day. Strong Excel skills and familiarity with modern cloud accounting tools are essential.

If you don't meet all of the essential criteria above but do hold an accountancy qualification, please send a CV in any case – the Hiring Manager is interested in speaking with candidates who are passionate about what they do and have a strong foundation of experience that can be built on, along with a genuine desire to learn.