Covering the Head of Finance's maternity leave, the Financial Controller will be the most senior finance person in the business, owning the group's month-end, year-end, and cash processes.
You will lead a UK team of two (a Management Accountant and a Finance Assistant) and work alongside a two-person US team as one global function.
This is a hands-on role: you will review the management accounts the team produces, while still posting in the accounting system and getting into the detail with them.
The immediate priority is a full month end alongside the Head of Finance before the holiday shutdown, followed by year end and external audit.
The accounting itself is not complex, as revenue is commission-based; the challenge is keeping many moving parts across multiple entities and currencies under control at once, while helping the team build more automated, AI-supported processes.
The ideal candidate will be comfortable being hands-on in a dynamic environment, a strong communicator, and passionate about the entertainment industries.
This is a maternity cover, initially 9 months' long with the likelihood of extending to 12.
Responsibilities
- Prepare monthly consolidated group reporting across UK and US entities, including intercompany reconciliations and setting the group FX rates.
- Review the monthly management accounts and variance commentary prepared by the team, and post journals directly in the accounting system where needed.
- Lead the December 31 year end, prepare statutory financial statements, and act as main point of contact for the external auditors.
- Own group cash management, including cash flow forecasting, approving supplier payments, and running the monthly artist and client payment run.
- Oversee monthly payroll and workplace pension administration, reviewing and approving outputs from the payroll provider.
- Lead budgeting and reforecasts with senior management, and respond to ad hoc requests for analysis and insight.
- Drive process improvement through automation, including the ongoing development of the business's internal AI finance tool.
- Line manage and develop the UK team, align timetables and reporting standards with the US team, and ensure a smooth handover at the start and end of the contract.
- Ad hoc tasks to support the wider leadership team
What We Need to See (Essential)
- Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) with at least 5 years' post-qualification experience.
- Proven finance leadership skills, with overall ownership of a P&L and balance sheet rather than deep specialism in one area.
- Strong multi-entity, multi-currency consolidation experience.
- Hands-on experience of year end, statutory accounts, and managing an external audit.
- Experience leading a small team, combined with a willingness to stay hands-on with day-to-day postings.
What We'd Like to See (Bonus)
- Background in music, entertainment, talent management, or another client-money or commission-based business.
Package
Salary: £90,000 per annum, pro rata (flexibility depending on experience)
Contract: 9-month fixed-term contract (maternity cover), with a strong likelihood of extension to 12 months
Location: London, hybrid working
Start Date: Immediate; with a start date by early December