Group Finance Manager, PE-backed Infrastructure, Crewe, £85,000 + bonus

This is a chance to join a growing, private equity-backed infrastructure business as Group Financial Manager. You'll run the group's core finance operation, making sure month end, the balance sheet and all transactional finance are accurate, on time and well controlled. You'll lead a team of 10 and play a central role in improving processes as the business scales.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and team management

• Lead, develop and motivate a team of 10: 5 Management Accountants and 5 Finance Assistants.
• Set clear objectives, manage performance and build a strong, capable team.
• Act as the main point of escalation for the team and support their technical development.

Month end and reporting

• Own the group month-end close, delivering accurate results to tight timetables.
• Review management accounts and supporting analysis before they go to senior finance leadership.
• Help produce reporting for the PE investors and lenders as required.

Intercompany

• Manage intercompany accounting across the group, including recharges, reconciliations and eliminations.
• Make sure intercompany balances agree every month and resolve differences quickly.

Balance sheet

• Take ownership of balance sheet integrity across the group.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations so that all balances are supported, understood and cleared on time.
• Oversee accruals, prepayments, provisions and fixed assets.

Transactional finance

• Have overall responsibility for all transactional finance, including purchase ledger, sales ledger, credit control, payments and cash allocation.
• Make sure controls work well and that the team meets its KPIs.

Overheads

• Manage overhead reporting and analysis, challenging spend and highlighting variances and savings opportunities.
• Work with budget holders across the business.

Process and controls

• Manage and improve finance processes and controls throughout the function.
• Find opportunities to automate and streamline work, and support system improvements as the group grows.
• Support the year-end audit process and be a key contact for the external auditors.

About You

• Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with experience at Financial Manager level or above.
• Proven people manager, comfortable leading a sizeable team that covers both management accounting and transactional staff.
• Strong technical accounting skills, especially in balance sheet control, intercompany and month end in a multi-entity group.
• Experience improving processes and controls in a fast-paced environment.
• PE-backed experience is desirable but not essential.
• Hands-on, organised and able to influence stakeholders at all levels.