Finance Manager Job Description for Corporate Finance Teams

The Finance Manager role is responsible for delivering accurate financial reporting, overseeing budgeting and forecasting cycles, and supporting strategic decision making. Candidates should be qualified accountants or experienced finance professionals with proven management experience and a strong commercial mindset.

Finance Manager Job Profile

The Finance Manager will lead day-to-day finance operations, ensuring timely month-end close, robust internal controls and accurate management information. This role supports senior leadership with financial analysis, planning and strategic initiatives to improve financial performance and operational efficiency.

The post requires a hands-on finance professional who can manage a small team, liaise with stakeholders across the organisation and ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

Finance Manager Job Description

The Finance Manager is accountable for producing regular management accounts, delivering forecasts and budgets, and providing insightful analysis to support business decisions. The role operates within a busy finance function and requires coordination with commercial, operations and senior management teams to translate financial data into actionable recommendations.

In addition to routine reporting, the Finance Manager will develop and maintain financial controls and procedures, oversee audit activity and drive process improvements to enhance efficiency and data quality. The role demands strong attention to detail, the ability to prioritise competing deadlines and effective communication of financial information to non-financial stakeholders.

Finance Manager: Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual management accounts with clear commentary on variances and trends
• Lead the month-end close process, ensuring accuracy and timely completion of reconciliations
• Develop and maintain annual budgets and rolling forecasts, working with commercial leads
• Provide financial analysis and modelling to support business planning and strategic initiatives
• Manage cash flow forecasting and working capital management
• Implement and monitor internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure compliance
• Coordinate and support external and internal audit processes
• Produce management reports and KPI dashboards for senior leadership and board review
• Lead, mentor and develop a small finance team to build capability and resilience
• Oversee month-end journals, accruals and prepayments to ensure correct accounting treatment
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements
• Identify and deliver process improvements to increase accuracy and reduce cycle times
• Support tax compliance and liaise with advisers on indirect and direct tax matters
• Assist in the preparation of materials for strategic projects, funding and investment appraisals

Finance Manager: Requirements and Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent) or substantial relevant experience
• Minimum five years of progressive finance experience, including supervisory or management responsibilities
• Proven experience in management reporting, budgeting and forecasting
• Sound knowledge of accounting standards such as IFRS or UK GAAP
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial information and advise stakeholders
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in financial data and reconciliations
• Demonstrable experience implementing internal controls and supporting audits
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills across all levels of the organisation
• Experience managing a small team and developing staff capability
• Ability to prioritise competing deadlines and deliver under pressure
• Proficiency with financial systems and spreadsheets to produce reliable reports
• Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to improving financial performance