Financial Controller

Elizabeth Scarlett Ltd.; Potters Bar; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A lifestyle and accessories brand in Potters Bar is seeking a Financial Controller to own the financial backbone of their operations. This role involves leading financial reporting, improving controls, and driving efficiencies across the UK, US, and EU. The ideal candidate is a qualified accountant with over 5 years of experience and a strong background in financial and management reporting, ready to support strategic growth initiatives. The position offers a competitive salary and a chance to shape the company's financial future.

Qualifications

• Qualified financial accountant (ACA / ACCA) with 5+ years’ post-qualification experience.
• Proven ability to improve processes and implement systems.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly and quarterly management reporting cycle.
• Present analysis and commentary to senior stakeholders.
• Oversee annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Strengthen financial controls and reporting frameworks.
• Deliver improvements leveraging automation.
• Manage and develop a growing finance team.
• Take responsibility for payroll and VAT reporting.
• Support strategic projects with financial modelling.

Skills

Qualified financial accountant (ACA / ACCA)

Financial and management reporting

Process improvement

NetSuite experience

Team management

Microsoft Office skills

Engagement with senior stakeholders

Education

5+ years’ post-qualification experience

Tools

NetSuite

Google Sheets

Job description

Financial Controller

Elizabeth Scarlett is seeking to appoint a Financial Controller to own the financial backbone of a fast‑growing lifestyle and accessories brand scaling profitably and philanthropically to £30M in sales over the next 2 years. This senior role offers visibility to the Board and the opportunity to shape financial reporting, strengthen controls, and drive process improvements across the UK, US, and EU.

Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 + 10% discretionary bonus
Reporting to: Russell Brin, Executive Director
Location: Potters Bar (24 mins from Kings Cross)
Office requirement: 5 days per week
Employment type: Permanent Full-Time

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly and quarterly management reporting cycle, ensuring accurate and timely delivery across the company.
• Present meaningful analysis and commentary to senior stakeholders.
• Oversee annual budgeting and forecasting processes, including cost planning for key corporate functions.
• Strengthen financial controls, processes, and reporting frameworks, embedding best practice across the company.
• Identify efficiencies and deliver improvements, leveraging automation and scalable systems where possible.
• Manage and develop a growing finance team, deputising for senior leadership when required.
• Take primary responsibility for payroll and VAT reporting.
• Support strategic projects and business planning with robust financial modelling and analysis.

Key Skills & Experience

• Qualified financial accountant (ACA / ACCA) with 5+ years’ post‑qualification experience.
• Strong background in financial and management reporting.
• Proven ability to improve processes and implement systems to enhance reporting and controls.
• NetSuite experience is strongly preferred and expected.
• Experience managing and developing teams, systems, and processes within finance.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel (including IndexMatch, lookups, Pivot Tables).
• Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience in entrepreneurial, fast‑growth settings.
• Leadership of systems change, automation, and financial transformation projects.
• Experience in Google Sheets.
• Knowledge of treasury, FX, or tax considerations at corporate level.

Attributes

• A detailed hands‑on approach, ready to show leadership by doing, not just delegating.
• Commercially astute with strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build relationships across functions.
• Gravitas and credibility to operate with senior leadership.
• Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative team player with a focus on delivering impact.

Interview Steps

• Preliminary phone call with Graham, Finance Advisor.
• Completion of a task that demonstrates key competencies.
• In‑person interviews with Oli (Finance Director), Russell (Executive Director), and Graham (Finance Advisor).
• Final interview with Alex, CEO.

Ready to be our first financial controller and help drive our next phase of growth?