Financial Controller

Harper May is working with a founder-led restaurant group operating across London and the South East. The business has grown steadily over the past five years through a combination of organic expansion and selective acquisitions, and operates a mix of casual dining and neighbourhood restaurant concepts. They have recently invested in upgraded financial systems and are now looking to strengthen their finance function to support the next phase of growth, including new site openings and operational consolidation across the group. The Role Reporting to the Finance Director, you will own the full cycle of financial reporting, control, and statutory compliance. This is a hands-on role that requires you to be equally comfortable with technical close processes and walking site managers through their P&L. You will be the bridge between head office finance and the operational business, translating numbers into insights that drive better decisions at unit level. Key Responsibilities • Lead monthly and year-end financial close processes, producing accurate management accounts and consolidated statutory statements • Design and maintain financial controls, policies, and compliance frameworks across all trading locations • Manage the audit cycle, including relationships with external auditors and the preparation of working papers • Develop and maintain financial reporting dashboards for operational teams, focusing on unit economics, labour cost analysis, and cash flow • Support budget planning and rolling forecasts, working closely with operations and general managers • Review and improve finance processes and systems to reduce manual effort and increase accuracy • Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards and Companies House requirements What we are looking for • ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified • Proven experience in a Financial Controller or similar role within hospitality, restaurants, or multi-site retail businesses • Strong technical accounting knowledge with fluency in financial reporting and consolidation • Ability to communicate financial performance to non-finance audiences without jargon • Pragmatic problem-solver comfortable in a growing, sometimes fluid environment • Experience with restaurant or hospitality accounting systems is a plus