Financial Controller, HG5

Financial Controller

Location:Knaresborough
Sector: Construction Plant / Equipment Hire & Leasing
Recruitment Partner: ST Talent

ST Talent is recruiting on behalf of a growing and ambitious construction sector lease and hire business seeking an experienced and commercially focused Financial Controller to develop the finance function.

This is a high-impact leadership role offering the opportunity to shape financial strategy, improve operational performance, and support long-term business growth within a fast-paced and evolving environment.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Board, the Financial Controller will take ownership of the full finance function, providing strategic financial leadership while ensuring robust controls, reporting accuracy, and commercial insight across the business.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving finance transformation, improving visibility through management information and KPI reporting, and supporting decision-making at senior leadership level.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and the full in-house accounting function
• Deliver accurate and timely monthly management accounts and MI reporting packs
• Provide board-level financial analysis and strategic insight
• Develop and maintain strategic financial plans and 5-year forecasts
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance monitoring
• Implement and manage rolling cashflow forecasting and working capital strategies
• Strengthen internal controls, governance, VAT compliance, and statutory reporting
• Manage multi-entity and group reporting requirements
• Lead audit processes and ensure statutory compliance obligations are met
• Drive finance systems improvements and transformation initiatives
• Develop KPI dashboards and operational reporting tools to improve business visibility
• Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team, improving accountability and capability
• Support and train senior leadership teams on budgeting and financial performance management

Key Achievements Expected in the Role

The successful individual will ideally demonstrate experience in:

• Bringing finance functions in-house from external accountants to improve control and responsiveness
• Designing and implementing comprehensive monthly MI and KPI reporting packs
• Introducing robust cashflow forecasting models to improve liquidity management
• Leading formal budgeting processes across operational businesses
• Delivering finance transformation projects and process improvements
• Enhancing financial governance, controls, and reporting accuracy

About You

We are looking for a commercially minded finance leader with:

• Proven experience as a Financial Controller or senior finance professional
• Experience within construction, plant hire, equipment leasing, or related sectors
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic planning capability
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Experience managing multi-entity reporting structures
• Strong systems and process improvement experience

What’s on Offer

• Senior leadership position with genuine strategic influence
• Opportunity to shape and modernise the finance function
• Growing and entrepreneurial business environment
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Long-term career progression opportunities

This vacancy is being advertised by ST TALENT Ltd, an Employment Agency. Visit our website for more details.