Interim Financial Controller | Management Consultancy | South Midlands | 6-Month Temp-to-Perm - #2163621

Interim Financial Controller | Management Consultancy | South Midlands | 6-Month Temp-to-Perm

We’re working exclusively with a fast-growing management consultancy looking to appoint a Financial Controller on an initial 6-month temp-to-perm basis, with the intention of moving into a permanent position.

The business has built an impressive position in its market and is entering an exciting next phase of growth. They’re looking for a commercially minded, hands-on finance leader to take ownership of the finance function and become a key partner to the CEO and senior leadership team.

This is a broad role offering genuine autonomy, combining financial control, commercial finance and process improvement. You’ll lead a small central finance team, strengthen the infrastructure behind the numbers and bring greater visibility around performance, profitability and cash as the Group continues to scale.

The initial six-month period offers an opportunity to make an immediate impact, demonstrate your value and establish yourself within the business ahead of a permanent appointment.

The Opportunity

This is much more than a traditional Financial Controller role. You’ll have genuine ownership of the Group’s finance function, with the autonomy to improve processes, introduce better systems and automation, and develop a finance team capable of supporting the business through its next stage of growth.

The remit spans both financial control and commercial finance, covering management information, budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis and working capital.

You’ll also have exposure to wider strategic projects, including potential acquisitions and the integration of new businesses into the Group, making this an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to combine strong technical foundations with broader commercial influence.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Take overall responsibility for the smooth running of the Group finance function, ensuring clear processes, priorities and accountability.
• Lead and develop a small finance team, providing direction, coaching and support.
• Own the month-end process and deliver timely, commercially focused reporting to the leadership team.
• Develop management information covering revenue, margins, costs, project performance and key business metrics.
• Oversee consolidated reporting across multiple entities, ensuring intercompany balances and underlying financial information are accurate.
• Partner with the CEO and senior stakeholders on annual planning, budgeting and ongoing forecasting.
• Maintain strong oversight of cash, debtor performance and working capital, ensuring good forward visibility of liquidity.
• Oversee core transactional finance activities, including billing, supplier payments, payroll and banking.
• Take ownership of tax, statutory reporting and audit requirements, working with external advisers where appropriate.
• Review existing finance processes and identify opportunities to simplify, automate and improve the way the team operates.
• Explore practical applications of AI and automation to reduce repetitive work and improve the quality and speed of financial information.
• Work closely with operational and consulting teams to understand the commercial drivers behind business performance and improve financial accountability.
• Develop profitability and margin reporting, helping the business understand project economics, resource utilisation and where performance can be improved.
• Support commercial analysis around client engagements, project performance and future business planning.
• Provide financial analysis to support strategic initiatives, including acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new businesses.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is commercial, proactive and hands-on, rather than a purely technical Financial Controller.

You’ll ideally be a qualified accountant with experience running finance within a growing SME or multi-entity Group. You should be comfortable operating autonomously, taking ownership and making improvements without waiting to be told what needs changing.

You’ll need to move comfortably between the detail and the bigger picture: understanding the underlying numbers while confidently explaining what they mean to the CEO and wider leadership team.

Experience within a management consultancy, professional services firm, project-based business or another fast-growth services environment would be particularly relevant.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification.
• Experience managing and developing a small finance team.
• Strong financial control and management accounting fundamentals.
• Experience working across multiple entities and managing Group reporting.
• A good understanding of budgeting, forecasting, cash management and commercial analysis.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence using cloud-based finance and reporting systems.
• Experience improving finance processes and introducing automation or technology.
• An understanding of project profitability, client economics or resource utilisation.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work directly with senior leadership.
• A naturally curious, analytical approach, with the ability to identify issues and turn insight into action.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial business where things are continually evolving.

To find out more, send your CV to [email protected].