Finance Manager at Charles Ardor & Company

ABOUT THE ROLE

• The Finance Manager will own the financial function end-to-end, from the accuracy of the books to the quality of the analysis that reaches the executive table. This is a hands-on role. You will review and sign off on the Finance Officer's output, produce the commentary that gives numbers meaning, manage cash actively, and keep the business ahead of its tax and statutory obligations. Beyond reporting, the Finance Manager is expected to work directly on pricing and cost analysis, tax compliance, budget management, and workflow and system design. The standard here is actionable insight: not a summary of what happened, but a precise identification of what is driving performance or pressure, with specific and practical recommendations to address it. The right person will be as comfortable telling leadership exactly where to cut procurement spend and by how much as they are closing the month-end.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the full monthly financial reporting cycle from close to review management accounts, ensuring output reaches leadership on schedule and to a consistent standard
• Review and sign off on all Finance Officer output, including reconciliations, journals, accounts payable and receivable schedules, invoicing, and payroll, before it moves forward
• Produce financial commentary and analysis that goes beyond summarizing results, identifying what is driving performance, where pressure points are, and what specific actions are recommended in response
• Manage cash position actively: monitor runway, identify risks ahead of time, and recommend concrete actions when the position tightens
• Own tax compliance end-to-end: calculate VAT, PAYE, and corporate income tax obligations, ensure filings are submitted on time, manage payments, and maintain an active compliance calendar; provide clear tax guidance to the business on routine matters
• Conduct detailed pricing and cost analysis, including a rigorous review of procurement spend, to support leadership in making precise decisions on where to reduce costs and by how much
• Lead the budgeting and forecasting process, maintaining a rolling view of performance against plan and surfacing variances that require management attention
• Assess, design, and improve financial workflows and system configurations as the business grows and its needs evolve, including active management of the accounting system (Zoho Books preferred)
• Participate in management financial review meetings, bringing prepared analysis and the ability to respond to questions in the room
• Manage and develop the Finance Officer, setting clear expectations and building capability within the team

Requirements

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Minimum of six years of progressive finance experience, with at least two years carrying supervisory or review responsibility
• ACA, ACCA, or equivalent professional qualification, or demonstrable experience in a comparable role that speaks for itself
• Genuine ability to interpret financial performance across a multi-stream P&L and translate it into specific, actionable recommendations for non-finance decision-makers
• Hands-on experience with management accounts, tax compliance, budgeting, and cost or pricing analysis in a fast-paced, multi-revenue-stream environment; hospitality, food and beverage, or consumer services experience is an advantage
• Proficiency in accounting software is required; Zoho Books experience is strongly preferred
• Strong written communication: the commentary and analysis you produce will be read at the executive level and must be precise, specific, and usable
• High attention to detail and the discipline to maintain standards under the pressure of month-end cycles and competing priorities