Halliday Marx have embarked on a Retained Assignment to hire an exceptional Financial Controller to join a highly ambitious and rapidly scaling Manufacturting business.
Financial Controller
Location: St Albans
Salary: £85,000–£95,000 (DOE)
Looking to join a business at a pivotal stage of growth and transformation?
Following a merger the company is expected to treble in size within 2-3 years through both organic growth and strategic acquisition. This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced finance professional ready to take genuine ownership of the day-to-day finance function, with the commercial capability and ambition to grow into a Finance Director as the group scales.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Managing Director and working alongside the CFO, the Financial Controller will have full ownership of the operational finance function across the group, overseeing two accounts team members. You will play a key role in ERP optimisation, finance process improvement, reporting improvements, and business integration, in a company where finance is a genuine strategic partner to growth.
Key Responsibilities
Full ownership of day-to-day finance
Accurate and timely monthly management information
Cash flow forecasting, working capital management and financial planning
Driving ERP consolidation and finance process improvement
Leading automation initiatives and identifying opportunities to leverage AI in a modern finance and accounting tech stack
Genuine business partnering with operational, engineering and commercial teams
Managing and developing finance and accounts staff
Supporting the Managing Director with tailored management information
Strengthening controls and finance infrastructure as the group scales
Manufacturing & Operational Finance
A strong manufacturing or engineering background is desirable. The successful candidate will have hands-on experience of WIP reporting and controls, bills of materials, manufacturing costing and margin analysis, sales order flow through ERP systems, inventory and stock reporting, and multi-site operational finance. You will be equally comfortable on the shop floor and in the boardroom and powerful communication skills are highly desirable.
The Candidate
You are likely an experienced Financial Controller or Finance Manager from a manufacturing or engineering environment, technically strong across reporting, forecasting and controls, and commercially minded. You will be experienced with ERP systems — ideally Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central — and a proven driver of automation and process improvement. Ambition to develop, learn and progress to Finance Director as principal commercial lead within the business is desirable.
Location & Working Pattern
The role is based in St Albans with occasional travel between this and other locations. One to two remote working days per week are available but preference is for a leadership candidate that likes to be surrounded by their team and involved in day to day decisions.