Job Title: Financial Controller
Location: Warrington
Salary: Up to £70k base + Bonus and Benefits
About the roleYou’ll join the team at an exciting early stage as the Financial Controller for a newly established UK entity, helping to set up finance "from scratch" while leveraging support, tools, and experience from the European headquarters. Reporting locally to the UK Country Manager and working closely with senior finance leaders in the Netherlands, you’ll play a hands-on role in building core financial processes, supporting contract and commercial decision-making, and ensuring compliance with UK tax and reporting requirements as the business prepares for rapid growth. This is a high-impact opportunity for a controller who enjoys combining day-to-day operational finance with business partnering, and who’s motivated by helping build a team and function as the UK operation scales.
What you’ll be doing*Set up the UK finance function from the ground up for a newly forming entity-establishing core processes, controls, and reporting rhythms while the business ramps up.
*Partner closely with the UK Country Manager to support commercial decision-making, including advising on financial implications of contracts, procedures, and local compliance requirements.
*Own UK financial governance and compliance, including building practical procedures around tax and statutory requirements and ensuring the business is "audit-ready" as activity grows.
*Deliver accurate, timely reporting into the finance hub-providing the information needed for group consolidation and alignment with group reporting standards.
*Coordinate with international stakeholders across the wider group (including finance leaders and peers in other countries) to align ways of working, share best practices, and ensure consistent data flows.
*Help shape the UK operating model ahead of expected scale-up-designing finance processes that can handle increasing transaction volumes and, over time, supporting the build-out of a local finance team.
*Spend time onsite in the Warrington area as the office is established (initially home-based until the office is ready), with flexibility to travel to other entities to build relationships and learn how the group operates.
What we’re looking for*Proven experience in a hands-on Financial Controller (or similar) role, ideally within a growing business or newly established entity where you’ve helped set up finance processes from the ground up.
*Strong working knowledge of UK finance and compliance, including UK tax/VAT requirements and month-end best practices, with the confidence to advise stakeholders on the "right way" to structure procedures locally.
*Comfortable operating in a cross-border reporting environment-able to produce clear, accurate reporting for local leadership while supporting consolidation and information flow to a European headquarters.
*A proactive, high-energy communicator who enjoys partnering with non-finance stakeholders (e.g., Country Manager, Sales, Operations) and can bring ideas, challenge constructively, and influence decisions.
*Detail-focused and accountability-driven, with a strong grasp of controls and the discipline to ensure numbers are robust and auditable within a listed-company environment.
*Adaptable mindset and resilience: happy to be a "one-person show" initially, rolling up your sleeves to manage day-to-day finance activity while building towards future team leadership as the UK operation scales.
*Willingness to be office-based in the Warrington area several days per week once the office is established, with flexibility to travel occasionally to meet colleagues across other entities.
What you’ll need*Proven experience in a hands-on Financial Controller (or equivalent) role, ideally setting up finance processes for a new entity, start-up environment, or newly established country operation.
*Strong knowledge of UK accounting and statutory requirements, with practical experience across areas such as UK VAT, tax compliance, and local reporting obligations.
*Experience producing and reviewing accurate month-end reporting, with the ability to provide clear information for group consolidation and stakeholder decision-making.
*Confidence working with cross-border finance teams and reporting into a European HQ, with the ability to communicate effectively across functions and seniority levels.
*Comfortable partnering closely with a Country Manager and wider leadership team, providing guidance on financial procedures to support contract set-up and compliant operations.
*A proactive, solutions-focused mindset-able to work independently, bring ideas, and build structure "from scratch" while leveraging central support.
*Willingness to be office-based in the Warrington area once the office is established (with home working required initially and some flexibility thereafter), plus occasional travel to meet colleagues in other locations.
*Eligibility to work in the UK (and readiness to relocate to the Warrington/Liverpool/Manchester area if not currently local).