Finance Controller

Finance Controller - Blackburn

Location: Blackburn / Hybrid

Position Type: Permanent, Full-time Finance Controller

Industry: Accountancy Practice / Business Advisory

Salary: £70,000-£85,000, depending on experience and qualification

About the Role

We're representing a leading, PE-backed but operationally independent business advisory firm with offices across Lancashire and Manchester.

They are looking to appoint an experienced Finance Controller to take a senior leadership role overseeing the firm's financial strategy, performance and governance. Working closely with the CEO, Board and wider leadership team, you will provide strategic financial insight to support growth, profitability and the long-term sustainability of the business.

The role combines hands-on financial leadership with commercial responsibility, with a particular focus on management reporting, forecasting, budgeting, financial systems, performance improvement and supporting wider business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic finance business partner to the CEO, providing insight, recommendations and commercial support
• Represent Finance at monthly site Partner meetings and maintain a strong presence across the firm's offices
• Communicate financial performance and activity effectively to the wider Partner team
• Lead, manage and develop the Finance team
• Own the monthly management accounts and associated management information
• Lead quarterly reforecasting and the annual budgeting process
• Identify and implement improvements across WIP and debt management
• Lead local M&A activity, including due diligence and integration
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of finance systems and processes
• Provide commercial financial support across the wider Group
• Identify financial and business risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies
• Monitor market and business risks
• Establish and measure Group KPIs
• Review and present the monthly Board Pack
• Maintain and distribute the monthly flash report
• Own WIP, utilisation and fee analysis and provide reporting to Partners
• Manage the monthly reforecast model in conjunction with FP&A
• Manage loan notes and associated financial responsibilities

Ideal Candidate Profile

• ACA or ACCA qualified
• Previous experience in a senior financial management or Financial Controller position
• Strong commercial and strategic finance experience
• Experience producing management accounts, forecasts, budgets and financial reporting
• Strong understanding of financial performance and KPI reporting
• Experience leading and developing a finance team
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Experience using cloud-based accounting systems, particularly Xero
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify and manage business risks
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High level of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
• Able to work independently while also operating effectively as part of a wider leadership team
• Strong project and resource management skills
• Committed to ongoing professional development

Benefits & Perks

• Salary of £70,000-£85,000, depending on experience
• Hybrid working
• 33 days' holiday including Bank Holidays
• Pension with salary sacrifice option
• Employee referral bonus
• Varied learning and development opportunities
• Support for professional qualifications and career development
• Simplyhealth benefits
• YOLO Wellbeing programme
• Electric car scheme and onsite electric vehicle charging
• Cycle2Work scheme
• Free independent mortgage advice
• Regular social events and firmwide activities
• Client referral scheme
• Opportunity to join an established and growing firm with over 95 years of history