About the role
We are looking for a hands-on, commercially focused Financial Controller to take ownership of the finance function within a c.£20m turnover organisation based in Swindon with European operations in Italy and Germany. This is a high-impact role during a period of structural change and business transformation, offering the opportunity to improve financial control, strengthen reporting, and help shape future performance.
You will act as the No.1 in finance, combining strategic input with hands-on delivery. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in an evolving environment, leading from the front, and driving tangible improvements across systems, processes, controls, and commercial insight.
This is not a maintenance role. We need someone who is proactive, resilient, delivery-focused, and willing to get into the detail to deliver meaningful change.
Key accountabilities
- Take full ownership of day-to-day finance operations, ensuring robust financial control and accurate reporting.
- Lead the finance function through structural change and business transformation.
- Drive improvements and reduce complexity across finance processes, audit, controls, reporting quality, and use of the current SAP ERP system.
- Play a key role in developing and embedding the new Dynamics 365 ERP system to improve efficiency, data integrity, and business visibility.
- Deliver hands-on monthly reporting, budgeting, and forecasting cycles.
- Provide clear, actionable financial insight to support commercial decision-making around product costing and pricing.
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve working capital, cost control, and performance visibility.
- Manage inter-company transfers and purchases across international entities, ensuring compliance and efficient processes.
- Manage external relationships including auditors, banks, and advisors during a period of transition.
- Input into procurement to drive cost improvement activities as well as controls and process automation.
- Manage and develop accounting team in UK and Germany
About you
Experience
- Proven Financial Controller experience within an SME or mid-sized business, ideally within manufacturing or a similar environment.
- Track record of operating successfully in change, turnaround, or transformation settings.
- Experience improving finance processes, controls, and systems; SAP and/or Dynamics 365 experience would be advantageous.
- Experience operating in a multinational environment and managing related transaction complexities and compliance requirements.
- Exposure to reporting into US based corporate head office and ensuring corporate compliance and controls.
- Experience of German and Italian accounting requirements is desirable.
- Comfortable owning both hands-on finance delivery and strategic input.
- Experience of supporting and driving pricing analysis and strategy.
- Experience of managing and developing a finance team.
Skills and qualifications
- Fully qualified accountant: ACA, ACCA, or CIMA.
- Strong analytical mindset with the ability to turn financial data into practical business actions.
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, evolving environments.
- Confidence delivering results with limited infrastructure or support.
Mindset
- Hands-on and delivery-focused, with the willingness to get into the detail when required.
- Resilient, adaptable, and proactive in solving problems.
- Comfortable challenging stakeholders constructively and driving change.
- High ownership mentality, able to operate as a true finance lead.
Why join us?
- Play a key role in shaping the future of the business.
- Take on a high-impact finance leadership role during a critical period of change.
- Enjoy autonomy to improve systems, processes, controls, and performance visibility.
- Gain direct exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making.
- Join an organisation where your work will have a visible and meaningful impact.
Apply now
If you are a commercially minded Financial Controller looking for a hands-on role where you can lead change, improve systems, and make a real impact, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please apply with your CV for consideration, including details of your current renumeration.
Please note: actual salary for the role is dependent on experience and fit to role requirements.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: From £75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
