The Opportunity

This is a broad, hands-on Finance & Operations Manager role within a growing SME based in Sale. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you'll act as the Number 1 in Finance, playing a pivotal role in both the financial control of the business and the smooth day-to-day running of operations.

The role suits someone who enjoys variety, autonomy and influence - someone equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves as they are looking at cashflow, profitability, forecasts and business performance. You'll work closely with non-financial colleagues, helping translate numbers into clear, practical insight that supports better decision-making across the business.

We're open to qualified or QBE candidates with strong all-round finance experience in an SME environment.

The Role

This is a genuinely broad role covering transactional finance, management accounting, statutory compliance and commercial support, alongside oversight of IT and payroll.

Duties and responsibilities include:

Finance Operations & Control

• End-to-end responsibility for the finance function, including sales and purchase ledger processing
• Credit control ownership (statements, credit limits, credit checks)
• Bank postings, journal entries and supplier payment runs
• Credit card and expense management, including P11d expenses & benefits
• Quarterly VAT submissions and Corporation Tax QIPs
• Management of invoice discounting (ID) facility
• FX and currency management

Reporting, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Preparation of robust and timely management, statutory and banking-compliant accounts
• Monthly reforecasts and annual budgeting
• Delivery of MI and reporting using Business Central and Power BI
• Regular review of profitability by customer and order
• Ownership of a rolling 3-month cashflow forecast, with a strong focus on working capital and liquidity

Commercial & Operational Support

• Proactive day-to-day cash management, working closely with key suppliers and customers
• Management of merchandiser and sales/purchase order processing
• Oversight of critical paths to ensure customer and supplier deadlines are met
• Uploading commercial documentation to customer portals
• Reviewing sample logistics and courier usage to ensure cost efficiency
• Supporting the smooth onboarding and management of suppliers and contracts

Governance, Compliance & External Relationships

• Main point of contact for external advisors including bank, auditors, tax, insurance and legal
• Ownership of legal matters, including review of contracts, terms & conditions and supplier agreements

Business Partnership

• Acting as the 'eyes and ears' across the business to help ensure operations run smoothly
• Working closely with non-financial colleagues, explaining financial matters clearly and pragmatically
• Supporting the Managing Director with insight, analysis and day-to-day operational decision-making

About You

• Strong all-round finance experience within an SME environment
• Comfortable operating as the sole finance lead ('Number 1 of 1')
• Confident across transactional finance, management accounts, forecasting and compliance
• Commercially minded with a practical, problem-solving approach
• Able to communicate clearly with non-financial stakeholders
• Qualified accountant or QBE with relevant hands-on experience

Why Join?

• A genuinely influential role reporting directly to the MD
• Broad exposure across finance, operations and commercial decision-making
• Autonomy, variety and visibility in a growing SME
• Opportunity to shape processes and ways of working as the business evolves

We need someone to start ASAP, please apply for more information.

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