Full job descriptionInterim Financial Controller | AI & Hardware Deep Tech Business | Hybrid


The Client


Harmonic is partnering with a venture-backed deep tech business that pairs proprietary AI software with its own sensing hardware, already in use with UK government customers. Having recently closed a significant funding round and grown from under ten people to more than thirty in a year, the business is moving from R&D into production, with its first batch of units in build and large contracts in sight. Finance needs to be ready before those orders land.


The Role


This is a hands-on interim of around six months, working alongside the Chief of Staff and closely with the COO. You will take a finance function that has grown faster than its processes, get the ledger right, deliver the December year-end and leave clean foundations and processes. It is primarily a fixer’s role rather than a management one, with real scope to shape how finance works. You will also coach a part-qualified accounts assistant.


Key Responsibilities


*Review and correct nominal coding across the ledger, clearing out catch-all codes.
*Put inventory, cost of sales and fixed asset accounting on a proper footing, including stock, paid and unpaid customer trials, and demonstration units.
*Lead the December year-end and audit preparation, with the accounts turned round within four months.
*Build a rolling cash flow forecast, linking committed purchase orders to cash.
*Produce clear quarterly management accounts for the founder and board, written in plain English.
*Tighten purchase-to-pay controls in a newly implemented PO system: PO detail, supplier terms, payment status and moving suppliers onto account.
*Support R&D tax credit claims, lease accounting for new premises, and the set-up of invoicing and support-package billing ahead of larger contracts.
*Work alongside the external accountants, challenging their output where needed.


Essential Experience


*Qualified accountant (ACA / CIMA / ACCA).
*Financial control experience in a hardware, manufacturing or physical product business, with strong grounding in inventory, cost of sales and fixed assets.
*Strong, current technical accounting, including delivering a year-end and audit.
*A genuinely hands-on approach: comfortable working from incomplete records and fixing problems at source.
*Able to explain finance clearly to non-finance founders and to develop junior team members.


Desirable Experience


*Experience in a scaling, venture-backed or engineering-led business; sector movers are welcome.
*R&D tax credit claims.
*Sage 50 and purchasing or inventory systems.


Day rate: £450-600 per day (Outside IR35)
Contract: 6 months
Location: Hybrid; 1-2 days per week in Cambridge.
Start Date: ASAP


For more information, get in touch with Ewan Fenley ().
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