Senior Financial Controller

The Senior Financial Controller acts as the CFO’s number 2, overseeing the day-to-day management and operation of the Finance function.

The role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, maintaining robust financial controls, and managing the core processes that support the smooth running of the business.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-growing, dynamic environment where systems and processes are continually evolving. The successful candidate will be adaptable, commercially minded and comfortable responding to changing priorities, while establishing clear processes, strengthening financial controls and supporting the business’s continued growth.

This is an initial contract role, with the view to extend and ideally become permanent.

Please still apply if you are only interested in contract work.

• Immediate start
• Monthly rolling contract - could be long term contract or convert to a permanent role if it suits long term
• 3 days in the London office
• Circa £85k +

The role:

• Oversee the day-to-day Finance function, serving as the primary point of contact and escalation for finance-related matters.
• Lead, support and develop the Finance team, establishing clear responsibilities, priorities, deadlines and expectations for accuracy, quality and accountability.
• Communicate effectively across departments, fostering strong working relationships and addressing issues promptly, collaboratively and pragmatically.
• Take ownership of routine operational finance matters, ensuring they are resolved efficiently within the team and enabling the CFO to focus on strategic priorities, funding, Board and investor relations, and key commercial decisions.
• Lead the monthly and quarterly financial close and reporting cycle, including P&L, balance sheet and cash flow reporting, across multiple entities.
• Ensure the integrity and consistency of historical and comparative financial data, maintaining robust supporting schedules, documentation and clear audit trails.
• Deliver insightful variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior periods, identifying emerging cost trends, significant movements, financial risks and recommended corrective actions.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and key accounting entries, including accruals, prepayments, payroll, depreciation, revenue, stock and cost of goods sold (COGS).
• Establish and embed effective financial controls, policies and processes that meet the needs of the current business while supporting future growth and scalability.
• Oversee accounts payable and receivable, ensuring effective management of aged creditors, debtor collections, supplier payment schedules.
• Manage bank reconciliations and day-to-day banking operations.
• Cash flow forecasting - provide visibility of liquidity requirements, upcoming financial commitments and any risks or actions requiring attention.
• Implement and maintain robust controls over expenses, vendor onboarding, supplier records and payment processes.
• Review and approve payroll.
• Lead the Finance workstream for banking and payment infrastructure initiatives, including bank migrations, process improvements and changes to payment approval workflows.
• Oversee working capital reporting across payables, receivables, inventory and other significant cash commitments, providing clear insight into financial risks, priorities and required actions.
• Maintain robust financial controls over stock, including valuation, reconciliations, provisions and adjustments, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of inventory balances across all channels and locations.
• Ensure the accurate and consistent accounting of cost of goods sold (COGS), landed costs, freight, duties and other inventory-related expenses.
• Gross margin reporting, working closely with Merchandising, Production and Operations to investigate discrepancies and proactively identify margin erosion and inventory risks.
• Ensure accuracy and reliability of financial data flowing between Retail 24/7, Shopify, Xero etc.
• Lead the year-end financial reporting process and annual audit.
• Oversee day-to-day Finance compliance, including VAT, PAYE/NIC, PSA/P11D and corporation tax reporting, liaising with external tax advisers etc.
• Manage and support multi-entity and international tax, VAT, customs and duty compliance as the business grows and expands into new markets.
• Maintain a robust, well-organised and audit-ready Finance function, ensuring financial records and supporting documentation are readily available for investor, lender and other due diligence requirements.
• Partner with department heads to strengthen financial accountability, scrutinise expenditure and ensure the financial impact of key decisions.
• Coordinate the annual budgeting and reforecasting processes, consolidating departmental inputs and constructively challenging assumptions to ensure realistic and robust financial plans.
• Provide clear, actionable financial analysis across costs, margins, cash flow and profitability to inform operational priorities, commercial decisions and investment opportunities.
• Financial forecasting, scenario planning and modelling.
• Automate processes and improve the use of financial data to drive efficiency.