My client, a Retail business in Harlow, is seeking a senior, highly experienced Financial Controller ( ACA/ACCA/CIMA) to take full responsibility for the company’s financial management, control, and reporting.
The role oversees all financial activity across retail, e-commerce, key accounts, wholesale and export, supporting a high-transaction, inventory-led operation. Working closely with the Directors, Commercial Manager, and senior leadership team, the Financial Controller will ensure strong financial discipline, accurate reporting, and commercially relevant insight across the business.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Control, Reporting & Leadership
* Overall responsibility for the company’s financial position, reporting accuracy, and control environment
* Lead and support the Accounts Department Manager and wider finance team
* Deliver accurate monthly management accounts and detailed P&Ls by department, channel, brand, and cost centre
* Ensure robust month-end and year-end procedures are consistently followed
* Maintain tight cost control and financial performance visibility across the business
Statutory Accounts, Tax & Compliance
* Work closely with the company’s external accountants and auditors to deliver accurate and timely annual accounts
* Full responsibility for HMRC compliance, including:
* VAT returns, policy adherence, and monitoring of regulatory changes
* Corporation tax calculations, planning, and payments
* Act as the primary finance contact for HMRC, auditors, and external advisers
* Ensure compliance across all statutory financial and reporting obligations
Cashflow, Budgeting & Forecasting
* Ownership of cashflow forecasting, budgeting, and financial planning
* Maintain and develop annual budgets and rolling forecasts across all departments and cost centres
* Exercise detailed budgetary control across key areas including:
* Payroll and headcount
* Marketing and promotional spend
* Rent, business rates, and service charges
* Utilities and operational overheads
* Produce forward-looking forecasts covering sales, gross margin, operating costs, stock investment, and working capital
* Provide clear financial insight to Directors to support informed decision-making
Commercial Finance, Stock & Supplier Performance
* Work with the Commercial Manager to support negotiation of:
* Annual supplier rebates
* Supplier contributions and financial support
* Track, validate, and report on all supplier rebate income and contributions, ensuring targets are achieved and returns maximised
* Oversee inventory value and accuracy, including provisions and valuation methodology
* Ensure stock investment is aligned with sales performance, margin, cashflow, and agreed KPIs
Sales Channel & Performance Reporting
* Maintain detailed financial reporting across:
* Online sales
* Retail stores
* Key accounts
* Wholesale and export
* Monitor sales and profit performance by channel, brand, and product sector
* Report on overall business performance against the UK market to identify opportunities, underperformance, or loss of share
Candidate Profile
Essential
* Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
* Proven experience as a Financial Controller or equivalent senior finance role
* Background in high-transaction, inventory-led retail, wholesale, or distribution
* Experience supporting multi-channel operations
* Strong working knowledge of UK tax, VAT, and statutory reporting
* Confident leader with the ability to work closely with senior stakeholders
Personal Attributes
* Commercially focused with strong analytical capability
* Comfortable challenging assumptions and driving financial discipline
* Detail-driven but able to see the wider commercial picture
* Calm, organised, and credible at senior level