Interim Finance Control & Reconciliations Lead
Location: Leeds - Onsite
Duration: 3-6 months (Interim)
Start Date: ASAP
Role Purpose
To provide short‑term senior finance support to strengthen our clients finance control environment during a period of transition.
This role will focus on reviewing reconciliations, applying independent challenge, supporting the sign‑off of key finance controls, and improving overall process discipline. A key objective will be ensuring finance outputs are accurate, well evidenced, and fully audit ready.
This is a senior, hands‑on role requiring strong technical judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to operate with a high degree of independence.
Key Responsibilities of the Interim Finance Control & Reconciliations Lead
1. Reconciliation Review & Sign‑Off
* Review daily, weekly and monthly reconciliations across key finance processes
* Validate that all reconciling items are clearly understood, evidenced and appropriately followed up
* Challenge unsupported balances, unexplained movements and aged items
* Ensure reconciliations are complete, accurate, and ready for formal sign‑off
* Support the Finance Director with review and approval of key reconciliations where required
2. Financial Control & Audit readiness
* Review and assess effectiveness of existing finance controls
* Ensure supporting documentation is complete, accurate and audit‑ready
* Identify control gaps and recommend practical remediation actions
* Support delivery of audit actions and ongoing remediation activity
* Promote consistent application of controls across the finance function
3. Month‑end & Reporting support
* Support month‑end close activity, including review of journals, accruals and balance sheet movements
* Challenge variance analysis to ensure explanations are fully supported by data
* Review management accounts / client reporting outputs prior to submission
* Ensure all month‑end deliverables are completed to agreed timelines and standards
4. Payments, Refunds & Exception processes
* Review controls relating to payments, refunds, reversals, returned cheques and DDIC activity
* Ensure exceptions are appropriately logged, evidenced and escalated
* Assess adherence to SOPs and identify where clarification or improvement is required
* Support strengthening of exception approval and governance processes
5. Process Improvement & Documentation
* Document key finance processes, identifying gaps in ownership, control or evidence
* Support development and enhancement of SOPs
* Recommend improvements to reduce manual processes and strengthen control frameworks
* Assist with workload mapping and process reallocation where required
6. Team Support & Capability uplift
* Provide technical guidance and support to junior and part‑qualified team members
* Improve the standard and consistency of reconciliation preparation and review
* Support clearer ownership, accountability and discipline across finance processes
Required Experience for the Interim Finance Control & Reconciliations Lead
Essential
* Strong background in financial control and reconciliation review
* Solid understanding of balance sheet controls and month‑end close processes
* Experience reviewing work prepared by others with the ability to provide constructive challenge
* Strong Excel skills and ability to work with large and complex data sets
* Experience working in an audit‑focused or tightly controlled finance environment
* Ability to identify control weaknesses and recommend practical improvements
* Confident working independently and escalating issues appropriately
* Strong attention to detail and ability to work to tight deadlines
Desirable
* Experience in payments, refunds, banking, reconciliations or operational finance
* Exposure to public sector or high‑volume transactional environments
* Experience supporting audit remediation or control improvement projects
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