Financial Controller Job Description Reports to: Chief Financial Officer Direct Reports: Finance Team Works closely with: Heads of Departments and Business Support Leads, COO. Location: Peterborough – hybrid with 3 days in office once established in role (Wednesday to be a core day) with regular travel to London and Cambridge offices. About Us At Greenwoods, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to be different, combining deep legal expertise with a culture shaped by respect, excellence, freedom, and fun. We believe that when talented individuals feel supported and empowered, they thrive, and so does our business. Following our recent transition into a private equity partnership we’re entering an exciting new chapter of growth and transformation. This shift brings increased financial complexity and opportunity, particularly around acquisitions and integration. In the short term, our finance function is evolving rapidly to meet heightened demands for responsiveness and rigour. Longer term, we’re focused on embedding acquired entities into our financial systems and processes, ensuring seamless operational delivery and strategic alignment. Role Purpose As we continue to grow and evolve, we’re reimagining how we manage our finances, and this role is central to that transformation. Reporting to the CFO, the Financial Controller will oversee the day-to-day operational delivery of our finance function. This includes ensuring accurate reporting, robust forecasting, and strong financial controls. This is a critical role that supports strategic decision-making and enables scalable growth, particularly through M&A activity and operational expansion. You’ll bring commercial insight, precision, and a proactive mindset to help shape the financial future of the business. Financial Management & Reporting Oversee all core accounting operations, including billing, accounts receivable/payable, general ledger, cost accounting, and revenue recognition. Deliver accurate monthly financial reports and KPIs. Lead the budgeting and forecasting process, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and reporting on variances. Maintain high standards of quality control across financial transactions and reporting. Ensure compliance with tax regulations and statutory reporting requirements. Manage the annual audit process and act as the primary liaison with external auditors. Strategic & Operational Excellence Deliver insightful financial analysis to support strategic decision-making across the business. Oversee cash flow management and banking relationships. Support the integration of acquired businesses into financial systems and reporting frameworks, acquisitions may include the integration of staff or require additional recruitment. Support M&A activity through financial due diligence, risk assessment, and collaboration with the CFO on investor relations. Contribute to finance automation initiatives such as streamlining invoicing and credit control, and ledger processes while preserving the value and contribution of the finance team. Governance & Controls Review and enhance existing finance policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure robustness and scalability. Monitor regulatory developments and ensure the organisation remains compliant with financial legislation and best practice. Team Leadership Lead and develop a high-performing finance team of five, including a Finance Manager, Senior Finance Accountant, and three Finance Executives. Champion team cohesion and provide steady leadership during periods of transition, ensuring continued engagement and performance across the finance team. Set clear objectives, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and foster a collaborative and accountable team culture. Key Measures of Success Development of robust budgets and forecasts aligned with strategic goals, with clear variance analysis. Smooth execution of the annual audit process with minimal issues raised by auditors. Timely and seamless integration of acquired entities into financial systems and reporting structures. Strengthening of internal controls to support scalability and compliance. Proactive oversight of cash flow and banking relationships to ensure financial stability. Effective contribution to the implementation and optimisation of the Elite ERP system. Delivery of clear, actionable financial analysis that supports strategic decision-making. What We’re Looking For You’ll be someone who brings a blend of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and people-focused leadership. Specifically, you will have: Qualifications & Experience ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified, with 5 years post-qualification experience. Proven experience as a Financial Controller or in a senior finance role. Strong technical accounting skills, including GAAP/IFRS and hands-on experience with ledger and close processes. Demonstrated success in leading finance projects and driving operational improvements. Technical Skills Advanced financial reporting and analysis capabilities. Proficient in accounting software (ideally Elite or SOS) and Excel. Comfortable working with finance systems and data to support decision-making. Experience with ERP implementation is highly desirable. Leadership & Communication Supportive leadership style with a commitment to team development. Experience managing and mentoring finance teams. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across the business. A proactive mindset and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively. Commercial & Strategic Insight Strong commercial awareness and the confidence to challenge constructively. Experience in professional services is preferred. Exposure to business partnering and working within a buy-and-build strategy is an advantage. Why Join Us? Join a values-driven firm at a transformative moment in its growth journey. You’ll play a key role in shaping our financial future, with the opportunity over time to progress to Finance Director through the demonstration of strong financial leadership and successful integration of acquisitions within the first deal cycle. At Greenwoods, we’re serious about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage candidates who may not meet every requirement to apply. If you need reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, just let us know. We’re committed to ensuring a positive experience for all candidates.