Financial Controller
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Salary: Circa £60,000 per annum
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Working Arrangement: Office Based
About Atkinsons Bullion & Coins
Atkinsons Bullion & Coins is a family-run business specialising in the buying and selling of precious metals, bullion and coins. As we continue to grow, we are looking for an experienced Financial Controller to join our senior team and take responsibility for the leadership and oversight of our Finance & Operations function.
This is a hands-on and commercially focused role, reporting directly to the CEO. You will play a key role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our financial information, maintaining strong financial controls and supporting the continued growth of the business.
A particularly important part of the role will be responsibility for the Company's financial hedging activities and acting as the Company's Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO). We are therefore looking for someone with genuine, practical experience in these areas, rather than someone with general awareness or training alone.
The Role
As Financial Controller, you will oversee the day-to-day finance function, working closely with the CEO, Directors and Finance Manager to provide accurate financial information, commercial insight and effective financial controls.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading and overseeing the day-to-day Finance & Operations function.
- Preparing monthly and quarterly management accounts and year-end accounts.
- Producing weekly sales, margin and business performance reporting.
- Managing month-end processes, journals, reconciliations and variance analysis.
- Preparing and coordinating annual budgets and financial forecasts.
- Providing financial analysis and commercial insight to support business decisions.
- Presenting financial information and recommendations to the CEO and Board.
- Preparing and submitting VAT returns and reconciling VAT, import duties and associated tax liabilities.
- Maintaining robust financial controls and ensuring financial records are accurate, complete and audit ready.
- Supporting Corporation Tax compliance and wider statutory reporting requirements.
- Managing the Company's financial hedging activities in accordance with company policy.
- Coordinating monthly payroll.
- Acting as the primary point of contact for external auditors and coordinating the annual audit process.
- Completing ONS returns and other regulatory reporting requirements.
- Ensuring statutory and regulatory deadlines are met.
- Line managing and supporting the Finance Manager.
- Providing operational cover and support across the finance function when required.
- Identifying opportunities to improve financial processes, controls and efficiency.
MLRO & Financial Crime Responsibilities
The Financial Controller will also act as the Company's Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and will have responsibility for overseeing the Company's AML and financial crime framework.
This will include:
- Taking overall responsibility for the Company's AML and CTF compliance framework.
- Ensuring AML policies, procedures and controls remain effective and compliant with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements.
- Overseeing customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence processes.
- Monitoring AML controls and identifying areas for improvement.
- Ensuring appropriate AML records and reporting processes are maintained.
- Providing guidance and support to managers and employees on AML and financial crime matters.
- Reviewing and escalating suspicious activity and making appropriate reports where required.
- Liaising with external advisers, regulators and relevant authorities where required.
- Keeping up to date with changes in AML, CTF and financial crime legislation and regulatory expectations.
Previous practical experience acting as an MLRO, or substantial experience directly supporting an MLRO, is essential for this position.
About You
We are looking for an experienced finance professional who can operate confidently at a senior level while remaining hands-on and commercially focused.
You will ideally have:
- A fully qualified accountancy qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or be qualified by experience.
- Previous experience as a Financial Controller or in a senior finance management position.
- Strong experience preparing management accounts, statutory accounts and financial reporting.
- Experience of budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis.
- Strong knowledge of UK accounting standards and statutory requirements.
- Experience preparing VAT returns and dealing with tax and regulatory reporting.
- Experience leading or supervising a finance function.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of AML and financial crime compliance.
- Previous experience acting as or directly supporting an MLRO.
- Practical experience of financial hedging, ideally within precious metals, commodities, financial services or a similarly relevant environment.
- Experience working within an SME or owner-managed business.
- Experience using Sage or a similar accounting system.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience working to strict financial and regulatory deadlines.
Desirable Experience
Experience in one or more of the following would be particularly advantageous:
- Precious metals, bullion, commodities or financial services.
- Retail, manufacturing or distribution.
- Financial hedging within a precious metals or commodities environment.
- Corporation Tax compliance.
- External audit and statutory accounts.
- Developing and improving financial processes and controls.
The Person
We are looking for someone who is:
- Highly analytical with excellent attention to detail.
- Commercially aware and able to understand the wider impact of financial decisions.
- Organised and able to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- A confident communicator who can explain complex financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues.
- A strong people manager and team leader.
- Comfortable working closely with senior management and Directors.
- Proactive, practical and willing to get involved in the detail when required.
- Professional, trustworthy and able to handle highly confidential financial and business information.
- Able to work independently and use sound professional judgement.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to join a growing, established family business in a key senior position where you will have genuine influence over the way the Finance & Operations function develops.
You will work closely with the CEO and Directors and will have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to financial controls, commercial decision-making, regulatory compliance and the continued growth of the business.
If you are an experienced Financial Controller or senior finance professional with genuine hands-on experience in financial hedging and MLRO responsibilities, we would be interested in hearing from you.
To apply: Please submit your CV along with a covering letter outlining your relevant experience, particularly your experience with financial hedging and MLRO/AML responsibilities.
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Experience:
- Financial Hedging: 1 year (required)
- MLRO/ AML: 2 years (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- accountancy qualification (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
