Role: Financial Controller

Sector: Virtual Learning

Location: Cambridge

Permanent: Part Time (3 to 4 days) (Hybrid 2/3 days in office)

Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 FTE (3 days = £36k - £42k)

Ref: VFR3107

Start: February 2025

VisionFR is delighted to be working with our client, an educational technology firm that provides a specialist online learning environment, support services and consultancy, a key client currently being the UK Government and Prison Service. Based in Cambridge with approx. 15 people in the head office and a further 20 people remotely around the UK, the business is growing quickly. The leadership team is now looking to recruit its first in-house Financial Controller to improve and develop the financial reporting and systems. There is also a newly created charity which will require the bookkeeping to be managed as part of this role.

The successful candidate will be an ambitious person who aspires to be a Finance Director. Working directly with the Senior Leadership Team and liaising with their external accountants who would also provide transactional bookkeeping support, this role gives an opportunity to work within a high growth company to help maintain and manage the company’s financial health and provide clarity through financial management information, commercial projects and forecasting.CPD training opportunities will be offered as part of this role.

Key responsibilities of the Financial Controller

Financial Reporting

• Prepare and present management accounts - P&L, Balance Sheet, cashflow and other relevant performance metrics
• Take responsibility for preparation of statutory annual accounts and liaison with accountants re audit thereof as may be applicable

Budgeting and forecasting, including

• Company annual performance of actuals v budget/forecast
• Ad hoc project and/or financial modelling to support business development initiatives (eg EMI schemes, R&D claims)

Sales invoicing & Credit control

• Ensure that all invoices are prepared, submitted and settled in good time for the month end to optimise cashflow

Weekly/Monthly

• VAT - Prepare and submit quarterly returns
• Payroll - work with accountants to ensure accurate and timely processing; plus P11ds, P60s and P35
• Oversee bookkeepers re reconciliation of supplier and debtor accounts
• Other tax and regulatory returns as may be required

Management Accounting System

• Take overall responsibility of the company’s accounting function in Xero
• Ensure all systems within the company are working efficiently and effectively
• Develop systems further to ensure that the company can respond to the demands of clients and maintain the levels of profitability

Other duties, to include but not limited to

• Liaison with company accountants, bank and other professional advisors
• Company insurances
• Property matters
• Ad hoc support re operations

The Financial Controller will have the following skills/experience:

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA (consideration will be given to QBE)
• Excellent Xero accounting software experience essential
• Ideally familiar working within a technology/software company
• Advanced excel
• Excellent communication/interpersonal and relationship building with all parties
• Commitment, good time management, prioritisation & collaboration
• A good listener and critical thinker
• A high level of drive, resilience and tenacity and can do attitude

VisionFR is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce and recruitment and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

Due to the high level of applications being received if you do not hear from us within 5 working days, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion, usually due to other candidates having more relevant sector exposure, qualifications or required skills. We thank you for your interest.