Finance Manager

Finance Manager

Finance - Manchester Greater Manchester (Hybrid)

The Role

Were hiring aFinance Managerto drive operational and commercial excellence in a high-growth marketing agency. Reporting into theFinance Controller youll ownmonth-end budgeting forecasting and day-to-day finance leadership while coaching and developing ourAssistant Management Accountant.

This role is aboutownership leadership and shaping how finance adds valueacross the agency from improving processes and automation to providing actionable insight that influences commercial and operational decisions.

Youll partner withClient Services Operations and the Senior Management Team providing clarity on performance profitability and efficiency. This is a role for someone who enjoyscombining detail with commercial context making an impact and helping a finance function evolve in a fast-moving collaborative environment.

Core Purpose

• Lead and own a robustpredictable month-end close
• Deliverbudgeting forecasting and cash flow insightto support growth
• Overseerevenue recognitionby aligning project delivery with contractual and accounting requirements
• Coach andmentor the Assistant Management Accountant building skills confidence and accountability
• Improve financial processes controls and operational efficiency
• Act as atrusted finance partnerto non-finance teams
• Supportfinance system rollouts migrations and automation
• Enable scalable data-driven reportingacross the business

Key Objectives

• Complete month-end close within5 business daysof month-end
• Ensure client revenue is accurately reported in line with contracts andUK GAAP/IFRS safeguarding financial integrity and enabling informed commercial decisions
• Deliverquarterly budgetson time with commentary aligned to departmental plans
• Monitor client revenue concentrations supporting FC to ensure no client >10% of total revenue
• Owncashflow forecasting and debtor management(3 months runway 60 debtor days)
• Implement12 targeted coaching or process improvementsfor the Assistant Management Accountant per quarter
• Leadrollout and adoption of expense managementand automation systems (80% adoption within 6 months)

Responsibilities

Financial Management & Month-End

• Lead the month-end close reviewing management accounts accruals and reconciliations
• Produceclear variance analysisand performance commentary
• Ensurebalance sheet integrityand high accounting standards
• Support the Finance Controller with inputs into Board-level reporting

Budgeting Forecasting & Commercial Insight

• Assist withsetting budgeting and re-forecasting cyclesacross the agency
• Monitorprofitability & revenue by client team and service line
• Translate financial data intoactionable commercial insightfor decision-makers

Revenue Recognition & Project Accounting

• Manage revenue recognition ensuring revenue is recognised in line with accounting standards
• Identify and escalate revenue risks or project delays to safeguard profitability
• Analyse project and retainer financial performanceto support forecasting margin optimisation and decision-making
• Collaborate with Client Services and Operationsto align project delivery billing and revenue recognition

Team Leadership & Development

• Coach mentor and develop the Assistant ManagementAccountant
• Set clear expectations standards and priorities
• Delegate effectively empowering autonomywhile maintaining accountability
• Foster aculture of accuracy collaboration and continuous improvement

Business Partnering

• Act as afinance partner to non-finance stakeholders
• Communicate financial concepts clearly to all levels
• Balance commercial ambition with financial discipline

Continuous Improvement & Systems

• Support the rollout andoptimisation of expense management platform Payhawk
• Play a key role insystem migrations and payment automations
• Help embed and optimise systems includingXero Mavenlink Payhawk BrightHR
• Identify inefficiencies and design scalable future-proof finance processes

(We value strong systems thinking and adaptability over prior experience in every tool.)

Governance Controls & Compliance

• Maintainstrong financial controlsaligned to UK GAAP / IFRS
• Ensurecompliance with internal policiesand external requirements
• Supportaudits and statutory processesas required

What Success Looks Like in Your First 612 Months

• Asmooth predictable and trusted month-end process
• Revenue is accurately recognised monitored and reported with risks identified and mitigated.
• Improvedvisibility of client and delivery profitability
• Well-embedded finance systems with reduced manual work and full adoption across Rise
• A confident supported Assistant Management Accountant thriving under your guidance

Youll Excel Here If You

• Have atleast 3 years experience in a similar Finance Manageror senior finance role desirable if you come from Paid Agency background
• Hold AAT (essential); CIMA part-qualified or newly qualified desirable
• Have experience leading or supportingprocess improvement automation or system migrations
• Are confident usingXero and advanced Excel / Google Sheets
• Have strong knowledge of UK GAAP / IFRS and accounting best practice
• Bring a positiveproactive mindsetand a desire to improve how things work
• Have excellentattention to detail and time management skills
• Areanalytical curious and solution-focused- comfortable solving complex problems
• Are aconfident communicator with finance and non-finance stakeholders
• Can work independently while thriving in afast-paced high-accountability environment
• Can bridgecreative and commercial worlds understanding both delivery detail and business strategy
• Have experience (or interest) inimproving processes for agile retainer-based teams

Why join us

Youll be joining ascaling SME marketing agencywhere finance is seen as astrategic partnernot a back-office function. Youll have real ownership exposure to senior leadership and the chance to grow with the business supported by an experienced Finance Controller and a collaborative leadership team.

If youre looking for a role where you canlead influence and build rather than just maintain wed love to hear from you.

What we can offer you

• Asalary of up to 45k depending on experience
• 30 days holiday Bank Holidays loyalty days accrued annually(capped at 5 days)
• Christmas and New Year shut down
• Access to Private Medical Insurance
• Health cash back plan
• Group life assurance scheme
• Company pension scheme
• Regular socials
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave schemes
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Bucket list scheme - an opportunity to experience a life dream!