London – 3 days in office – Permanent – #2 in finance for the UK

£80,000–£90,000

Are you a Financial Controller who enjoys owning month-end, tightening controls, and using the numbers to drive better decisions? Do you thrive in a PE-backed environment where you can be hands-on and genuinely commercial?

You’ll be joining a private equity-backed media business on a strong growth journey. The UK finance team needs a confident #2 who can take full ownership of the UK close and control environment, while also partnering with budget holders to improve cost discipline and performance.

This is a broad, practical role - you’ll roll up your sleeves when needed, but you’ll also be the person bringing clarity to spend, highlighting what matters, and helping teams make better calls.

WISH LIST

• Strong month-end ownership experience in a hands-on finance role (management accounts, balance sheet control, close discipline)
• Confident working with non-finance teams - able to challenge spend and explain the “why” without finance jargon
• Comfortable in a PE-backed or high-accountability environment (PE exposure beneficial, not essential)

THE ROLE

• Own the UK month-end close end-to-end, ensuring timely, accurate reporting and clean processes
• Take responsibility for balance sheet control, reconciliations, and overall reporting integrity
• Maintain and improve the UK financial control framework
• Produce monthly management reporting packs with clear variance analysis and commentary
• Lead cost control across the UK: track spend, spot trends, and challenge budget assumptions
• Partner with budget holders across multiple cost centres - building credibility and improving decision-making
• Support annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting, consolidating inputs and pushing on assumptions
• Deliver insight on key cost drivers and operational KPIs, highlighting risks and opportunities early
• Work closely with Group finance to align UK reporting with Group standards and consolidation requirements
• Support board reporting and financial presentations (inputs, analysis, and narrative)
• Drive process improvements across reporting, controls, and how the team uses systems/tools
• Provide ad hoc analysis to support growth initiatives and commercial priorities

YOUR PROFILE

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CA)
• Effective communicator – written & verbal
• Good working knowledge of MS Excel
• Top-tier practice trained preferred, with solid industry experience thereafter
• Private equity / small cap PLC experience advantageous, not essential

SALARY & BENEFITS

• £80,000–£90,000
• London: 3 days in the office, 2 days from home
• Private healthcare