Transformation Project/Financial Controller (12mth FTC - Jan 2026 start)
Infrastructure & Civil Engineering Services
£70-75,000 + Executive Package
An outstanding opportunity for an accomplished finance professional to join one of the region’s most dynamic and fast-growing infrastructure services businesses in a pivotal 12-month role.
This is a company that has more than earned its success. Through a combination of technical excellence, operational discipline, and an unwavering commitment to quality, it has grown from a £12m turnover to over £22m in just three years, with a new specialist division already at a run-rate to add a further £3m per year. The business is solid, profitable, and exceptionally well-run, but as its scale and complexity have evolved, the finance function now needs to evolve with it.
With the Company Accountant due to start Maternity Leave early next year, the Finance Director is seizing the opportunity to undertake a transformative project alongside covering for her period of absence.
This is therefore an appointment with a dual remit.
Firstly, to provide experienced, steady leadership to the finance team during the period of maternity cover, ensuring that day-to-day financial control and reporting continue seamlessly.
Secondly, and more strategically, to lead a finance transformation project, modernising the systems and processes, and developing the team capability to ensure the function is fully equipped for the next chapter of growth.
This is not a ‘fix or turnaround brief, the business and it’s finance function are performing well, but that does not mean it is not prime for evolutionary improvement. Certain aspects will benefit from modernising, future-proofing, and the kind of financial infrastructure that can support a company with its eyes firmly set on tomorrow.
The Finance Director and other Board members recognise that as the business has expanded, finance has been running on a model that served today’s needs rather than tomorrow’s ambitions. The Interim Financial Controller will be the catalyst to bridge that gap: embedding stronger systems, upgrading reporting, and creating a platform of insight and control that reflects the company’s size and momentum.
The business has recently implemented Microsoft Business Control, the new AI-driven finance platform from Microsoft, offering powerful automation, analytics and data-driven insights. It is a major step forward in their financial technology capability, but as with all new systems, it now needs the right leadership to ensure it delivers to its full potential, integrating into business rhythm, management reporting, and commercial decision-making.
Reporting directly to the Finance Director and working closely with the senior leadership team, the Interim Financial Controller will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the finance department, including a small but capable accounts team who handle key operational accounting processes. The remit will cover everything from ensuring timely and accurate management accounts, cashflow forecasting, and statutory compliance, through to driving improved efficiency, structure, and accountability within the team.
The role will demand someone equally comfortable with detail and direction. You will provide the operational rigour that ensures the daily numbers are right, but also the strategic foresight to design the processes, reporting frameworks and cultural mindset that will carry the department forward for years to come. This is a business that has thrived on clarity, opportunity and delivery and now seeks to apply the same principles to its finance function.
Your mission will be to make finance faster, smarter, and more insightful. That means embedding automation where manual processes still exist, using data to support decision-making, and building management information that is both accessible and commercially meaningful. It also means investing in people: mentoring and developing the existing team so they gain confidence, capability, and a sense of ownership over their areas of responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
* Oversee day-to-day financial operations: ledgers, payroll, reporting, and compliance.
* Deliver timely, accurate monthly management accounts and board packs.
* Provide strategic financial insight, analysis and recommendations to the FD and SLT.
* Consolidate and optimise the new Microsoft Business Control system; automation, dashboards, and AI-driven analytics.
* Lead, develop and coach a small accounting team, building skills, clarity and accountability.
* Identify, plan and execute improvement initiatives across processes, controls and reporting.
* Prepare budgets, cash forecasts and scenario analyses.
* Ensure statutory and tax obligations are met in full.
* Support the maternity cover requirement, ensuring seamless continuity of operations.
* Future-proof the finance function, aligning systems, structure and skills with a £30m+ business trajectory.
The Candidate
You’ll be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with a strong record in both operational and transformational finance leadership. Experience in construction, contracting, infrastructure, or civil engineering sectors will be a distinct advantage.
You’ll combine hands-on financial control with the mindset of a change agent, someone who can maintain accuracy and rigour while designing the next generation of processes.
A confident communicator, able to influence at all levels, you’ll bring clarity, structure, and energy to a finance team keen to modernise. Pragmatic rather than theoretical, you’ll balance improvement projects with daily delivery, ensuring both immediate continuity and long-term evolution.
Key Attributes
* Proven Financial Controller or senior finance manager with transformation exposure.
* Track record modernising finance systems and processes in an SME or mid-cap environment.
* Strong working knowledge of contemporary ERP / finance systems (Microsoft preferred).
* Experienced in budgeting, forecasting, and commercial reporting.
* A motivator and mentor, capable of raising standards and embedding best practice.
* Analytical, credible, and delivery focused.
* Comfortable operating in a growing, entrepreneurial, ‘hands-on’ environment.