Job Description
Freightserve recruitment are looking for a Finance Manager for a busy well-established Freight company based in the Feltham, Middlesex area.
A senior, hands-on Finance Manager opportunity within a growing, owner-managed freight forwarding business specialising in time-critical aviation logistics, including AOG (Aircraft on Ground), courier, airfreight, roadfreight and on-board courier movements.
Based near Heathrow, this is a key leadership role within the business. You will take full ownership of the finance function, working closely with the directors to ensure strong financial control, regulatory compliance and strategic growth planning.
This is not a corporate reporting role. It is a commercially focused, operationally connected position within a fast-moving logistics environment.
If you have worked in any of the following roles, we would also like to hear from you:
JOB OVERVIEW
As Finance Manager, you will oversee all financial operations of the business, ensuring robust financial control within a 24/7 time-critical freight environment.
The company operates using Sage Line 50 for accounting and BoxTop Technologies for freight operations, with integration between operational and financial systems.
You will take ownership of system integrity, reporting accuracy and financial controls across both platforms.
Given the nature of freight forwarding, the role includes oversight of:
* Duty Deferment Accounts
* Community Transit Guarantees
* HMRC compliance and customs-related accounting
* Multi-currency transactions and overseas supplier payments
You will play a central role in managing working capital, improving reporting visibility and supporting the company’s next phase of growth.
This is a key appointment within the business and will directly influence strategic and commercial decision-making.
DUTIES
Your duties as Finance Manager will include:
• Full ownership of monthly management accounts and reporting
• Cashflow forecasting and working capital management
• Oversight of Duty Deferment Accounts and Community Transit Guarantees
• Ensuring HMRC compliance including VAT (import/export), postponed VAT accounting and customs-related accounting
• Budgeting and annual forecasting
• Margin analysis by department (Air / Road / Courier / OBC / AOG)
• Shipment-level profitability analysis
• Credit control oversight and debtor days management
• Managing multi-currency accounts (GBP, EUR, USD) and foreign supplier payments
• Oversight of additional trading currencies where applicable
• Reviewing and maintaining integration between BoxTop operational system and Sage Line 50
• Improving financial reporting outputs across Sage and BoxTop
• Strengthening internal controls and financial processes
• Payroll oversight and pension compliance
• Liaison with external accountants and tax advisers
• Supporting directors with commercial decision-making and long-term planning
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
• Proven experience as a Finance Manager or Financial Controller within an SME
• Experience within freight forwarding, logistics, aviation or international trade (highly desirable)
• Strong working knowledge of Sage Line 50 (or equivalent SME accounting software)
• Strong understanding of Excel is essential
• Experience working with integrated freight forwarding systems
• Experience managing Duty Deferment Accounts and HMRC exposure
• Strong understanding of UK VAT including import/export VAT
• Experience managing multi-currency environments
• Strong working capital and cashflow management experience
• Commercially minded with ability to analyse margins and profitability
• Professional qualification (ACCA / CIMA / ACA) preferred but not essential
• Hands-on approach with strong attention to detail
BENEFITS
• Performance-related annual bonus
• Pension scheme
• Private medical care
As an agency we are fast becoming the number one Freight specialist in the UK. We have a fast growing reputation with most Freight related companies. Freightserve has been established since 1992 working within the Freight Forwarding and Shipping industry