Financial Controller

My client is a rapidly growing European FMCG business, currently expanding its Manchester presence and seeking an experienced Financial Controller to join the newly established finance team.

This is a key role within the finance function, supporting both manufacturing and commercial operations. It would suit a technically strong and commercially minded finance professional who enjoys maintaining robust controls, improving processes and partnering with stakeholders across the business.

The Financial Controller will take ownership of financial governance, compliance and reporting, while providing insight and challenge to support effective decision-making. With a strong focus on continuous improvement and transformation, the role offers genuine scope to influence how the finance function operates as the business continues to grow.

What you’ll do:

• Maintain a robust internal control environment across manufacturing and commercial finance, ensuring compliance with company policies and IFRS / UK GAAP.
• Lead initiatives to strengthen financial controls, governance and risk management across the organisation.
• Oversee the documentation and testing of key financial controls, ensuring a consistent and effective control framework.
• Own the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely reporting to senior stakeholders.
• Review and approve journals, accruals, prepayments and intercompany transactions, ensuring the integrity of financial data within the ERP.
• Lead the relationship with external auditors, coordinating audit planning, deliverables and queries through to completion.
• Support statutory reporting requirements, preparing audit schedules and supporting documentation across manufacturing and commercial areas.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations on inventory accounting, including valuation, provisions, write-offs, reconciliations and physical inventory checks.
• Take ownership of balance sheet integrity, ensuring key reconciliations are accurate and aged items are resolved promptly.
• Identify and deliver opportunities to improve, standardise and automate finance processes, including supporting ERP optimisation and wider finance transformation projects.

What you’ll bring:

• Strong technical accounting and financial control experience, ideally within a manufacturing or commercial environment.
• A proven track record of managing month-end and year-end close processes and leading external audits.
• Strong knowledge of inventory accounting, including valuation, provisions, write-offs and reconciliations.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle or Dynamics, with an interest in using technology to improve finance processes.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a high level of attention to detail and the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to work collaboratively across Finance, Supply Chain, Operations and Commercial teams.
• A proactive, improvement-focused approach, with a track record of identifying opportunities to streamline and enhance processes.
• The ability to take ownership of key areas including financial controls, balance sheet integrity and audit readiness.
• Strong commercial awareness and the confidence to challenge and influence where appropriate.
• A genuine interest in understanding the story behind the numbers and using financial insight to improve business performance.

To apply, please get in touch today.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates