Finance Manager, Cardiff

Finance Manager Salary:£45,000 - £50,000 + benefits Location: South Wales (hybrid working available) The Opportunity A growing and well-established engineering services business is seeking a commercially minded Finance Manager to take ownership of its finance function. Operating within the MEICA sector (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control&Automation), the business supports a range of infrastructure and industrial projects across the UK. Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, this is a hands-on role offering full responsibility for local financial operations, alongside meaningful exposure to group reporting, strategic decision-making, and operational performance.This position would suit a qualified accountant looking to step into a broad, autonomous role within a growing SME environment. Key Responsibilities Financial Reporting&Control Prepare and deliver monthly management accounts in line with group deadlines Provide clear variance analysis, forecasts, and insightful commentary Maintain balance sheet integrity through regular reconciliations Ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements (including VAT)Act as the primary contact for auditors and external advisors Budgeting&Forecasting Support the annual budgeting and planning process Monitor financial performance against budget and forecast Provide meaningful analysis and recommendations to support decision-making Business Partnering&Analysis Deliver high-quality financial analysis to support operational and strategic initiatives Partner with operational teams, including project managers, to improve financial visibility and performance Contribute to management reporting, dashboards, and presentations Support business cases, investment appraisals, and potential M&A activity Systems&Process Improvement Identify and implement improvements to financial processes and controls Support ongoing development and optimisation of finance systems About You Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) Minimum 3 years' experience in a finance role (practice or industry) Experience in a commercial finance or SME environment is advantageousStrong technical accounting knowledge (UK GAAP) Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting systems (e.g. Sage or similar ERP) Skills&Attributes Strong analytical and problem-solving ability High attention to detail and accuracy Confident communicator, able to engage with both finance and non-finance stakeholders Proactive, hands-on approach with a continuous improvement mindset Working Arrangements Office-based with hybrid flexibility (subject to business needs)Occasional travel may be required Why Apply? Broad and autonomous role with real ownership Exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making Opportunity to shape processes in a growing business Supportive and collaborative working environment TPBN1_UKTJ