Financial Controller

Why join Marshall Land Systems in this role:

This role offers an exciting opportunity to step into a highly strategic finance leadership role within a business undergoing significant transformation.

Following the transition from family ownership to private equity backing, the organisation is focused on driving growth, enhancing operational performance, and strengthening financial governance.

This role sits at the heart of that journey, working as a key member of the Land leadership team to shape strategy, influence decision-making, and deliver value creation.

Responsibilities in this role include:

Strategic & Operational Leadership

Contribute to the development and delivery of divisional strategic and operational plans
Act as a key member of the Land leadership team, influencing business direction and performance
Support sales and investment decision-making through financial, commercial, and tax

Planning & Performance

Support multi-year business planning processes
Deliver robust budgeting and forecasting
Provide insightful analysis to support performance improvement and value creation

Financial Control & Governance

Maintain full accountability for the financial control environment across the division
Ensure robust, compliant, and efficient financial processes and controls
Oversee balance sheet integrity, risk management, and audit processes

Reporting & Analysis

Lead the design and delivery of the financial reporting framework
Provide high-quality periodic and ad-hoc reporting to internal leadership and parent
Deliver meaningful insights to enhance operational and financial decision-making

Commercial & Operational Finance

Support complex project-based delivery, including cost control, margin management, and
risk mitigation
Oversee financial aspects of international operations, including foreign exchange and credit
Provide financial oversight of supply chain activities and contract performance

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

Proactively lead and support business change and improvement initiatives
Drive efficiencies across Financial Control within the Finance directorate and wider operational processes
Support ERP and systems optimisation initiatives

Leadership & Team Development

Develop, lead and mentor a high-performing Financial Control team
Foster a culture of customer service, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Operate effectively within a matrix structure, influencing beyond direct reporting

Apply if you have most of the following:

Significant experience in a senior finance leadership role (Financial Controller, Deputy FD, or equivalent)
Proven experience within a private equity-backed environment
Background in defence, engineering, manufacturing, or complex project-based industries (defence highly desirable)
Experience operating in international businesses, including exposure to foreign currency and cross-border operations
Strong track record in financial control, reporting, and governance in complex environments
Experience supporting strategic planning, investment decisions, and business
Demonstrated success working within matrix organisations and influencing senior

Technical skills/Education:

Fully qualified accountant (FCA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
Strong technical accounting expertise (UK GAAP / IFRS)
Experience managing foreign exchange risk, credit risk, and financial instruments
Understanding of international trade considerations (e.g. bonds, guarantees, overseas deployment models)
Excel and financial modelling capability
Experience with ERP systems and finance transformation initiatives
Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into commercial insight

Additional local requirements:

Hybrid role, onsite around 70% of the week
Successful candidates will need to be eligible to obtain SC (Security Clearance)

The Benefits this role cam offer you include:

Opportunity to play a key leadership role in a PE-backed transformation journey
Clear progression pathway to Finance Director or Divisional FD roles
Direct exposure to board-level and investor interactions
Involvement in strategic decision-making and value creation initiatives
Opportunity to shape and enhance financial control and reporting frameworks

The benefits we will offer you include:

27 days holiday increasing with service up to 30 days (option to buy /sell)
Pension contributions up to 9%
Private medical insurance for you and your partner
Company car allowance
Extensive flexible benefit program including Cycle to Work
Life assurance at 4x basic salary
Enhanced parental leave and pay
Paid volunteering leave
Access to industry leading wellbeing resources and tools

Marshall Land Systems is a Canadian-owned global company with an unrivalled pedigree of British engineering excellence. From its origins in Cambridge, UK, through more than a century of innovation, pioneering advances from the nose of Concorde to the early Hydrogen fuel cell technology that ultimately powered the moon landings, Marshall engineers now continue to innovate specialist vehicles and infrastructure for NATO forces across the world. From bomb disposal vehicles to deployed shelters, from command and control to CT scanners on the battlefield, Marshall Land Systems protects people in critical situations with the very best in engineering. It employs 600 people with major facilities the UK, Canada, and the Netherlands.

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