Job Description

Job Advert

Financial Controller

The Financial Controller role is a pivotal position at Protein Works.


The successful candidate will lead and be accountable for the finance department's output, ensuring it supports the business effectively.



The role is based at our brand-new PW Campus in Speke and has the following main responsibilities:


1. Lead the finance function day-to-day, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting


2. Mentor and develop the finance team


3. Own accounting, payroll, tax and regulatory compliance


4. Maintain focus on balance sheet integrity and working capital optimisation - ensuring stock, debtors, creditors are well understood and tightly controlled


5. Strengthen financial processes, reconciliations and internal controls (including automation) to create a scalable finance function


6. Own the finance system (Sage 200) and its interface with our data warehouse, ensuring accuracy, efficiency and continual improvement of data flows


7. Own cash management including forecasting, reporting and ensuring optimal liquidity


8. Deliver timely month-end close, management accounts, KPIs and the board pack


9. Lead budgeting and forecasting cycles


10. Partner with operational teams to support decision-making and drive performance


11. Develop and own relationships with auditors, tax advisors, banks & payment providers and other external stakeholders

Non-Negotiables

1. Fully qualified accountant


2. Proven track record as a Financial Controller or Head of Finance in a product business


3. Relentless focus on balance sheet integrity and working capital discipline


4. Hands-on experience with accounting systems (Sage 200 or similar) and able to thrive in imperfect data environments


5. Demonstrated ability to strengthen controls, improve processes and introduce automation


6. Strong technical grounding across accounting, payroll, Corporation Tax, VAT and regulatory compliance


7. Hands on & enjoys the detail


8. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to deliver under pressure and to tight deadlines


9. Clear, confident communicator who can influence at all levels and translate numbers into action


10. High standards of integrity and ownership - "the numbers stop with you"


11. Leadership ability - proven in developing, motivating and managing small teams

We Think This Type of Person Would Kill the Role!

1. A proactive self-starter who takes ownership


2. Commercially sharp and motivated by improving performance, not just reporting on it


3. Pragmatic problem-solver who simplifies complexity and gets things done


4. Collaborative and positive, able to build trust quickly across teams