Job Description
Job Title: Financial Controller
Location: Unit 7a, Odhams Trading Estate, St Albans Road, Watford, WD24 7RY
Salary: Competitive
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
Working Hours: 40 hours per week (Monday to Friday 08.30 - 17.00). Flexibility required to meet business needs.
The role:
Are you a financial professional with 3+ years post-qualified experience and a passion for making a difference? This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced SME environment, ideal for a technically strong and commercially curious finance professional ready to shape and scale a growing finance function. This role could also be suitable for someone seeking progression into a Financial Controller position.
Reporting directly to the CFO, you will lead a team of 5 and take full ownership of financial reporting, budgets, and the effective delivery of day-to-day and month-end financial processes. You will act as the primary point of contact for external advisors and handle all technical accounting queries.
The role also involves leading finance-related and wider Group initiatives, requiring the ability to build strong relationships with the Senior Leadership Team. This is a broad and varied role offering opportunities to drive process improvements, deliver key projects, and provide strategic support to both the finance function and the wider organisation.
As a Private Equity-backed business, this position offers a unique opportunity to gain exposure to a dynamic, high-growth environment and contribute to the company's strategic growth and development.
About us:
Vegetarian Express specialises in delivering plant-based ingredients, ideas, and inspiration to chefs across the UK for eating out of home. With the rise in popularity of plant-based, vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets, Vegetarian Express is uniquely positioned in Foodservice to meet this demand. We are rapidly growing and expanding.
Nationwide, we supply over 4,000 skilled chefs to clients such as Compass, Baxterstorey, and Hilton, as well as many independent operators. We collaborate with customers to create enticing plant-based menus that are healthier, better for the planet, and commercially viable.
We are proud to be a certified B Corporation, part of a global movement of businesses committed to positive social and environmental impact.
What you need:
* Fully qualified accountant with over 3 years' post-qualification experience (ACA, CIMA, or ACCA)
* Strong technical expertise in group consolidation, budgeting, and scenario analysis
* Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and SAGE 200
* Excellent organisational and time management skills; able to prioritise tasks effectively under pressure
* Detail-oriented with a proactive, problem-solving approach
* Adaptable and flexible in managing changing workloads
* Self-motivated with a high level of initiative
* Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
* Experience within an FMCG environment (advantageous)
In return we offer:
* Competitive basic salary
* 25 days annual leave plus public holidays
* Annual leave purchase up to 3 additional days
* Health cash plan
* Pension
* Group Life Assurance
* Hybrid working arrangement
* Staff discount on all products
* Training opportunities
We promote good physical and mental health and support our employees via our Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle to Work scheme.
Candidates with experience or relevant titles such as Management Accountant, Head of Finance, Financial Controller, Finance Auditor, Accounts Officer, Credit Controller, Purchase Ledger Clerk, Purchase Ledger Controller, Accounts Clerk, Xero, Accounts Payable Assistant, Purchase Ledger, or Assistant Accountant will be considered.
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