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Job Title: Financial Controller
Location: Dagenham/Ilford/Romford area
Reports To: Managing Director
Salary:Competitive, dependent on experience
Employment Type:Full-time, Permanent
Company Overview
Our company is a first-class provider of veterinary services. We're proud to be a dynamic and rapidly growing independent veterinary group, currently operating over 42 sites with plans to expand to 60+ in the next year. We have a strong focus on delivering exceptional veterinary care and we are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, and financial transparency.
You may be interested to learn that if you are a pet lover with a household companion, as an employee you automatically become eligible for 50% off the cost of your pet's treatment.
Role Overview
As Financial Controller, you will play a pivotal role in managing the financial health of the business. You will be a hands-on finance professional with deep expertise in financial management, reporting, and control, ensuring accurate and timely financial insights to support strategic decision-making. Given our rapid and exciting expansion, this role will require a proactive and commercially minded finance leader who is comfortable with the complexities of multi-site operations, cashflow management, audits, and M&A financial due diligence. The finance team is a small team and therefore the role will be very much a hands on financial controller, reconciliation work and reviewing processes in liaison with the companys external accountants.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) who thrives in an infectiously fun, fast-paced, high-growth environment.
Key Responsibilities/Financial Management & Reporting
- Oversee all aspects of financial management, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
- Produce and review monthly management accounts, P&L, and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Take ownership of financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring alignment with business goals.
- Manage cashflow forecasting and liquidity planning across a growing group structure.
- Ensure compliance with statutory reporting, VAT and corporate tax obligations.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Lead the optimisation and automation of financial processes to improve efficiency and accuracy.
- Drive best practices in financial controls, ensuring scalability in line with business growth.
- Act as the key finance lead for Xero accounting software, ensuring effective utilisation and improvements.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Due Diligence
- Support financial due diligence for acquisitions and integrations of new veterinary sites.
- Provide valuation insights, risk assessments, and post-acquisition financial integration.
- Work closely with external advisors and internal stakeholders during transactions.
Audit, Compliance & Risk Management
- Manage the external audit process, liaising with auditors and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Ensure robust financial governance, internal controls, and risk management across all sites.
Leadership & Team Development
- Support and mentor junior finance team members, fostering continuous development.
- Work collaboratively with the wider finance and operational teams to drive financial performance.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Qualified Accountant (CIMA, ACCA, ACA) with strong technical expertise.
- Proven experience as a Financial Controller or similar role in a multi-site business.
- Hands-on approach with a keen eye for detail and accuracy.
- Skilled in Xero accounting software, with the ability to drive improvements and efficiencies.
- Strong knowledge of cashflow management, audit processes, and financial controls.
- Experience in M&A financial due diligence, including valuations and integrations.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a commercial mindset.
- Ability to work at pace in a rapidly expanding environment, adapting to change.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills, able to liaise with senior stakeholders.
Desirable:
- Experience in the veterinary, healthcare, or multi-site service industries.
- Knowledge of private equity-backed businesses or high-growth environments.
- Familiarity with financial modelling and investor reporting.
