Financial Controller | Private Equity, Professional Services.
Remuneration | £110,000 -£130,000 + Bonus.
Location | London, permanent & full-time position (Hybrid, 3x days office per week).
KE1611
The Opportunity:
A market-leading, Private Equity-backed Professional Services organisation is seeking an ambitious and technically strong Financial Controller to join its Group Finance function.
Operating across multiple international markets, the business generates annual revenues exceeding £2.5bn and EBITDA of more than £150m. Through a combination of strategic acquisitions and sustained organic growth, the Group continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its market position.
With significant Private Equity backing, the organisation is entering a particularly exciting phase of its evolution. A range of strategic initiatives are being explored, including potential divisional carve-outs, restructuring opportunities and longer-term exit scenarios. As a result, the Finance function is undergoing further professionalisation to ensure it can support the demands of a complex, high-growth and constantly evolving business.
The Role:
Reporting directly to the Finance Director, the Financial Controller will play a critical role in enhancing the quality, consistency and robustness of Group financial reporting whilst leading the consolidation of a large portfolio of operating businesses.
This is a highly visible position within Group Finance, offering exposure to senior leadership, Private Equity stakeholders and strategic business initiatives.
The successful candidate will take ownership of the Group consolidation process across multiple legal entities and operating companies, while helping modernise reporting processes and systems. The business is keen to move away from heavily manual, Excel-driven reporting cycles and is evaluating leading consolidation and planning platforms such as Lucanet, Anaplan and similar technologies.
Alongside consolidation responsibilities, the Financial Controller will lead key aspects of statutory reporting, audit management and IFRS compliance, whilst supporting the ongoing centralisation of financial reporting from international operations into the UK Group structure.
This role requires a hands-on finance leader who enjoys building, improving and driving change. The environment is not one of remediation; rather, it is about taking an already successful finance function to the next level in support of a rapidly growing and increasingly sophisticated organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Group consolidation process across a diverse portfolio of domestic and international entities.
- Drive the professionalisation and automation of consolidation and reporting processes.
- Support the selection, implementation and optimisation of consolidation and financial planning systems.
- Manage and enhance monthly, quarterly and annual Group reporting cycles.
- Lead the delivery of statutory accounts and IFRS-compliant financial reporting.
- Act as a key point of contact for external auditors and manage the annual audit process.
- Support the centralisation and standardisation of reporting across international business units.
- Ensure consistency, accuracy and integrity of financial information across the Group.
- Partner closely with the Finance Director and wider Group Finance team on strategic projects.
- Contribute to initiatives associated with M&A integration, organisational restructuring, carve-outs and potential exit planning.
- Drive continuous improvement across financial controls, governance and reporting frameworks.
- Support the development of a scalable finance infrastructure capable of supporting ongoing growth.
The Requirements:
The successful candidate will be a qualified finance professional with a strong technical accounting background and proven experience operating within complex, multi-entity organisations.
They will be comfortable working within a changing environment and possess the ability to balance strategic improvement initiatives with hands-on delivery.
Additional:
- ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified.
- Proven experience operating as a Financial Controller or within a senior Group Finance position.
- Extensive experience leading complex consolidation processes across multiple entities.
- Experience within large-scale organisations, ideally international in nature.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge including IFRS reporting.
- Previous ownership of external audit relationships and statutory reporting processes.
- Demonstrable experience improving finance processes, controls and reporting frameworks.
- Exposure to consolidation and planning tools such as Lucanet, Anaplan, Hyperion, OneStream or similar would be highly advantageous.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across a complex organisation.
- Comfortable operating within Private Equity-backed, acquisitive or high-growth environments.
- Hands-on, delivery-focused approach with a willingness to roll up their sleeves and drive outcomes.
What's on Offer:
This represents a rare opportunity to join a large-scale, high-performing Private Equity-backed organisation at a pivotal stage of its growth journey.
The successful individual will gain exposure to complex international operations, strategic transformation initiatives, M&A activity and potential future transaction events, whilst playing a key role in shaping the next generation of Group Finance reporting and control.