Financial Controller – Maternity Cover

About the role

Equifind is partnering with a leading international retail business to find a Financial Controller on a maternity cover basis. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will own the month‑end close and deliver management accounts that give senior leadership clear financial visibility.

Key responsibilities

• Own the full month‑end close process across multiple entities and currencies, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Prepare and present monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet and cash‑flow analysis.
• Deliver variance analysis against budget/forecast with clear commentary on drivers and trends.
• Manage balance‑sheet reconciliations and maintain robust supporting schedules.
• Identify and lead improvements to finance systems and processes, reducing manual work and speeding reporting.
• Drive automation of month‑end tasks, collaborating with IT and systems teams.
• Document and standardise processes and controls across entities and markets.
• Partner with commercial and operations teams to explain performance and flag risks or opportunities.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and year‑end audit activities as required.
• Manage and develop a small finance team responsible for transactional and management accounting.

Required profile

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience running month‑end close and producing management accounts, ideally in retail or a multi‑site, multi‑currency environment.
• Experience managing a sizable finance team.
• Track record of driving process or systems improvements within a finance function.
• High attention to detail and ability to meet tight monthly deadlines.
• Clear communicator comfortable presenting numbers to non‑finance stakeholders.

Required skills

• Advanced Excel.
• Hands‑on experience with ERP systems.