Finance Controller Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire Salary:£45,000 to £55,000 plus excellent benefits including bonus Our client is a successful technical management consultancy providing technical expertise to projects in the Ministry of Defence. They also have experience working in the nuclear, defence, space, and transport sectors in the UK. Due to expansion, they are looking for an experienced Finance Controller you will report directly to the Head of Finance, working as part of a small team in this newly created role to support the finance function as a whole. The successful candidate should be Qualified or Part Qualified - ACCA, CIMA. Locatedin Portsmouth with some hybrid working available. The salary is £45,000 to £55,000 PA with excellent benefits including Bonus; Personalised Professional Development; Comprehensive Health Care Coverage; Generous Holiday Allowance with Flexible Buy-Back Option; Pension Scheme 7% company contribution; Life Insurance Benefits; Convenient On-site Parking Please note: Candidates will need to either hold a current SC clearance or be willing and eligible to undergo a Security Clearance check (SC level) upon starting their employment with the company. To gain SC clearance you will normally need atleast 5 years’ UK residency. Hours: 37.5hrs per week with part-time available for consideration. Finance Controller Responsibilities will include: * Xero bookkeeping * Financials - journals, depreciation, and accruals * Cash flow forecasts, balancing expected and actual overheads. *Departmental budgets. * Contribute to the evolution of our information management by getting involved with our Information Management System, which is currently in the design stage. * Payroll activities during month-end, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, and providing essentialsupport. * Finance Controller Expertise Required: The ideal candidate for this position will possess a strong foundation in accounting principles and practices, coupled with hands-on experience in managing financial records and analyses * Proficiency in Xero or similar accounting software, with a deep understanding of bookkeeping practices and financial reporting. * Advanced skills in financial analysis, including the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and narratives. * Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning, demonstrating an ability to align financial strategies with organisational goals. * Knowledge of payroll processes and regulations, with the flexibility to support this function as needed. * Strong competency in Microsoft Excel or equivalent, capable of handling complex datasets for analysis and reporting. Finance Controller - The Ideal Candidate: You are a dynamic, detail-oriented individual with a passion for finance and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Your communication skills are top-notch, allowing you to effectively articulate financial concepts to non-finance colleagues. A Qualified/Part Qualified Management Accountant (CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent) or with relevant experience in a similar role. A strategic thinker, capable of seeing the bigger picture while ensuring the accuracy of fine details. Proactive and self-motivated, with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility for your work. A collaborative team player who enjoys working closely with others to achieve shared goals. Keywords: ACCA, CIMA, FCA, Accounts, Finance, XERO Finance