Financial Controller (Part-Time)

Financial Controller (Part-Time)

Location: Galway, Ireland

Reports to: Founder & CEO

About Grá Chocolates

At Grá Chocolates, we believe that "Grá" (Love) is the secret ingredient in everything we do. From our hand-painted artisan chocolates to our meticulous sourcing of Irish ingredients, we strive for perfection. As we scale, we are looking for a financial architect to ensure our business remains as healthy as it is delicious.

Grá Chocolates is a digital-first luxury brand. We need a Financial Controller who is as comfortable navigating the backend of an e-commerce platform as they are chairing a board meeting. You will be the architect of our financial systems, ensuring that every online order translates into clean data, clear profit, and total compliance.

The Role

We are seeking a tech-forward, highly organised Financial Controller to take ownership of our day-to-day finances and long-term strategic planning. You won’t just be crunching numbers; you will be the guardian of our profitability and the "engine room" that keeps our business operations and board meetings running smoothly.

Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Operations & Control

• Day-to-Day Control: Full ownership of Xero: invoicing, bank reconciliation, and aged debtor management (chasing payments).
• Accounts Payable: Manage the accounts payable process, setting up supplier payments and ensuring we maintain excellent credit reputations.
• Compliance & Tax: Prepare and process Payroll and VAT returns with total accuracy while ensuring full compliance with Irish company law and accounting standards. Manage payroll submissions, Revenue returns, and maintain accurate records for staff hours, overtime, and holiday pay. Act as the primary point of contact for external accountants and Revenue.
• Reporting: Maintain high-level dashboards in Google Sheets and Excel to provide the CEO with instant clarity on business performance.

E-commerce & Digital Finance

• Platform Integration: Manage the integration between Shopify and Xero.
• Reconciliation: Reconcile Shopify payments, gift cards, and merchant fees (Stripe/PayPal).
• Digital Tax: Ensure VAT compliance for domestic and international e-commerce sales.

Inventory & Stock Management

• Valuation Accuracy: Lead the month-end inventory valuation process to reflect raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.
• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): Maintain precise costings within Xero or integrated tools to ensure ingredient price fluctuations are reflected in margin analysis.
• Wastage & Shrinkage: Implement tracking systems to monitor production waste and shelf-life expirations to provide loss prevention reports.
• Technical Syncing: Oversee the "handshake" between Shopify stock levels and accounting software to prevent overselling.
• Modern Audits: Utilize AI-assisted or digital scanning tools to streamline physical stock takes.

Strategic Growth & Planning

• Future Planning: Develop robust budgets and rolling 12-month cash flow forecasts.
• Product Costing: Conduct granular costings to protect luxury margins against fluctuating raw material and shipping costs.
• Process Optimisation: Implement "Modern Add-ons" and AI-driven tools to automate manual tasks and reduce friction.

Modern Governance

• The "Meeting Governor": Prepare board packs and facilitate meetings to ensure time is used effectively, discussions stay on track, and action items are documented.
• HR & Administration: Support HR administration by maintaining employee records, managing leave, and responding to staff queries regarding payroll. Ensure all HR and financial information is handled with the highest level of confidentiality.

Grant Management & Funding

• Application Support: Assist the CEO in the financial modeling and data preparation required for grant applications (e.g., LEO, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, etc.).
• Compliance & Documentation: Ensure the business maintains all necessary financial records and "Tax Clearance" status required to remain eligible for funding.
• Drawdown Management: Lead the Claim process. This includes compiling the necessary proof of expenditure, ensuring all supplier payments align with grant terms, and managing the timeline to ensure funds are drawn down into the bank account as quickly as possible.
• Reporting & Audit: Act as the lead contact for any grant-related audits, ensuring that every cent of funding is accounted for and reported correctly.

What You Bring to the Table

• Tech Mastery: An Excel/Google Sheets wizard (Pivot tables, complex formulas).
• Xero Expertise: Deep experience with Xero and its ecosystem (Dext, Hubdoc, etc.).
• AI Enthusiast: Stay ahead of the curve with AI-driven finance improvements.
• The "Ordered" Mindset: Naturally disciplined; able to hold a room of stakeholders to an agenda without being the official "Chair".
• Industry Experience: Experience in manufacturing, retail, or food/beverage is a plus.
• Shopify Savvy: (Bonus) Experience reconciling e-commerce platforms and digital payment gateways.
• Compliance Expert: Strong knowledge of Irish and international VAT, Payroll, and Revenue requirements.
• Character: You are a "completer-finisher" with the "grit" to chase payments with polite Irish charm.

Professional Qualifications & Technical Skills:

• Qualified Accountant: (ACA/ACCA/CMA/CPA) preferred.
• Technical Certification: Xero Advisor Certification or equivalent experience with modern cloud-accounting ecosystems is highly desirable.
• Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth understanding of Revenue requirements, Irish VAT, and Payroll legislation.
• Strategic Experience: Proven experience in a role that required both operational bookkeeping and high-level financial reporting/board-level communication.
• Manufacturing Bonus: Previous experience in a manufacturing environment is a significant bonus.
• Career-Break Friendly: We warmly welcome applications from senior professionals re-entering the workforce after a career pause or parental leave who are looking to apply their extensive expertise in a supportive, high-growth local business.

Why Join Us?

• Flexible part-time hours to suit your lifestyle.
• At Grá Chocolates, we value results, trust, and autonomy over rigid office hours. We recognise that top-tier financial talent often wants a meaningful, high-level role that fits around personal and family life. Whether you are returning to the workforce, scaling back your hours, or seeking a role that respects your commitments outside of work, we offer a truly flexible environment where your skills are valued and your time is respected.
• School-Run Friendly Hours: Core deliverables can be structured around school hours or set days that suit your schedule.
• A chance to be a key player in one of Ireland's most exciting luxury food brands.
• (And yes, there will be chocolate.)

DIRECT APPLICANTS ONLY – NO AGENCIES, CONSULTANCIES, OR FRACTIONAL FIRMS

PLEASE NOTE: This is an in-house, part-time direct employee role for an individual Financial Controller. We are NOT looking for B2B outsourced agency services, advisory consultancies, or external fractional CFO practices.

If you are an agency or outsourced accounting firm, please do not apply, your application will be automatically declined.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From €20,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

• How many years of experience do you have managing Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), Bill of Materials (BOM), or inventory costing in a manufacturing or food production environment?

Licence/Certification:

• Are you a fully qualified accountant with active membership? (required)

Work Location: In person