ALF Recruit
Financial Controller

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Job Title
We’re working with a well-established, growing service-sector business headquartered in Manchester. The business has grown steadily, and its finance function now needs a Financial Controller to bring structure, control and clear commercial insight.
You’ll own the whole financial control environment in a hands-on role. You’ll run month-end and statutory reporting, and you’ll also have a real voice in how the business plans and performs. It suits someone who’s as comfortable rolling their sleeves up as they are presenting to the leadership team.
What you’ll get
- A salary of up to £90,000, depending on experience
- Hybrid working, with 2 days a week in the Manchester office and the rest from home
- Annual discretionary bonus
- Parking included for office days
- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
- Private healthcare
- A modern city-centre office, a collaborative and supportive culture, and a business that invests in its people
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading month-end and year-end close and producing accurate, timely management accounts
- Owning the statutory accounts and managing the external audit from start to finish
- Running the annual budget and reforecasts, with variance analysis that drives decisions
- Managing cash flow, working capital and banking relationships
- Making sure financial controls, processes and policies are robust and scalable
- Overseeing VAT, corporation tax and other compliance, working with external advisors
- Leading, developing and motivating the finance team
- Partnering with operational leaders to give clear, commercial insight on performance and profitability
- Driving process improvement and getting the most out of finance systems
What we’re looking for
- A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
- Proven experience as a Financial Controller or senior Finance Manager, ideally in a service-led or multi-site business
- Previous experience in Financial Services would be advantageous
- Strong technical accounting knowledge and a track record of delivering statutory accounts and audits
- Experience leading and developing a finance team
- A commercial mindset, with the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems
- A hands-on, organised approach, with the drive to improve how things are done


Get help with your application
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This is a chance to take real ownership of a finance function in a growing Manchester business, with the flexibility of hybrid working and a salary to match.
For a private and confidential conversation about this role, please contact Joanne Sizer at ALF Recruit.
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