Financial Controller

Our client is a boutique hotel group with a small number of properties in the Home Counties. Across the Group, the operation spans bedrooms, restaurants, bars, private dining, weddings, events and guest experiences — so there are plenty of moving parts behind the numbers.

We're looking for an experienced Financial Controller to oversee the Group's day-to-day finance function and bring clarity, control and useful commercial insight to the business. You'll work closely with the Directors, Board and senior management team, making sure reporting is accurate, the financial position is understood, and decisions are supported by numbers that actually mean something.

The in-house finance team already manages accounts preparation, payroll and VAT compliance. Your job is to lead the function, review the output, and make sure the numbers are accurate, useful and acted upon.

What you'll be doing

• Overseeing the Group's day-to-day finance function
• Leading, supporting and developing the in-house finance team
• Reviewing draft monthly, quarterly and annual management accounts
• Coordinating the monthly Board reporting process
• Preparing clear financial reporting for Directors, Board members and third-party investors
• Developing KPI reporting and analysis to support informed decision-making
• Analysing monthly trading and cash-flow performance against budget
• Identifying key movements, risks and areas requiring management attention
• Preparing and maintaining a rolling 13-week cash-flow forecast
• Analysing actual cash performance against previous forecasts
• Monitoring the Group's debt facilities and financial covenants
• Forecasting covenant performance and preparing compliance certificates
• Managing the annual budgeting process
• Maintaining and modelling the Group's rolling three-year business plan
• Reviewing payroll, VAT and accounts-preparation processes
• Identifying and implementing improvements to finance and related operating systems
• Liaising with tax advisers on corporation tax and other compliance matters
• Managing relationships with external auditors
• Reviewing and coordinating the submission of statutory accounts
• Providing financial oversight of capital projects
• Modelling new business opportunities and commercially focused projects
• Working with departmental leaders to improve financial understanding and accountability

What we're looking for

• A qualified accountant — ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• Strong experience overseeing management accounts, budgeting and cash-flow forecasting
• A sound understanding of UK accounting standards, IFRS and UK GAAP
• Experience managing debt facilities and financial covenants
• The ability to produce clear Board-level reporting and analysis
• Confidence working with Directors, investors, lenders and other senior stakeholders
• Strong leadership skills and experience developing a finance team
• Advanced Excel skills, confident with PowerPoint, accounting software and wider business systems
• Strong financial-modelling and analytical skills
• A commercial mindset and the confidence to challenge constructively
• The ability to work autonomously while remaining connected to the wider management team