Finance Manager - Chinese Speaking

Finance Manager

Sunbury on Thames

£45K - £55K per annum

Our client is seeking an experienced Finance Manager to join their team. The Finance Manager will take ownership of the daily financial operations for the business. This is a broad and varied position, combining financial accounting, management reporting, cash and working capital management, taxation, audit, budgeting, inventory control, accounts receivable oversight and commercial finance support. You will:

• Lead, motivate and develop a small finance team consisting of two direct reports, including both office-based and remote employees.
• Plan and allocate workloads across the UK finance team and shared finance support resource.
• Provide ongoing coaching, guidance and development support to enhance team capability.
• Retain overall accountability for the accuracy, quality and timely completion of all finance activities.
• Act as the key UK liaison point for the shared finance support team.
• Define and maintain clear ownership, responsibilities, processes and service expectations.
• Monitor the quality, accuracy and timeliness of work completed by the shared finance resource.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls, review procedures and approval processes are consistently applied.
• Resolve operational issues promptly and escalate matters where appropriate.
• Support the continued development and improvement of the shared finance operating model.
• Oversee the accurate recording of revenue, expenditure, costs, receipts and payment transactions.
• Ensure all financial transactions are processed correctly and recognised within the appropriate accounting periods.
• Maintain robust financial records in line with IFRS, UK accounting requirements and Group policies.
• Prepare and deliver monthly financial statements, management information and reporting packs within agreed timelines.
• Manage the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring deadlines are achieved.
• Review finance activities completed by both the local team and shared finance resource.
• Analyse balance sheet accounts, investigate variances and resolve outstanding items.
• Maintain accurate reconciliations, supporting documentation and accounting schedules.
• Provide meaningful financial analysis and commentary to support understanding of business performance.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and preparation of rolling financial forecasts.
• Track business performance against budget, including revenue, costs and profitability measures.
• Provide financial insight, recommendations and updates to the UK General Manager and Group Finance.
• Recommend adjustments to spending plans and budgets based on operational performance and changing business needs.
• Partner with department heads to improve financial ownership and budget accountability.
• Maintain reliable forecasts covering cash flow, revenue and expenditure expectations.
• Monitor daily cash positions and oversee the preparation of cash reporting information.
• Manage monthly bank reconciliations and ensure outstanding items are investigated and cleared.
• Prepare and maintain working capital forecasts and budgets.
• Support effective cash-flow management across the UK business.
• Ensure the UK business remains compliant with relevant tax legislation and reporting obligations.
• Coordinate accurate and timely preparation, submission and payment of tax requirements.
• Manage relationships with external auditors and coordinate audit activity.
• Lead the planning and delivery of the annual external audit process.
• Maintain complete and accurate financial records to support audit and compliance requirements.
• Identify, assess and escalate potential financial, tax or compliance risks.
• Ensure activities performed by shared finance teams align with UK regulatory requirements and Group standards.
• Coordinate regular physical inventory reviews and stock-count activities.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies between physical inventory and financial records.
• Prepare inventory analysis and reporting information for Group Finance.
• Maintain appropriate controls over stock movements, provisions and write-off processes.
• Oversee monthly accounts receivable reporting and customer ageing analysis.
• Monitor customer balances, payment trends and adherence to agreed credit terms.
• Develop and maintain clear procedures for activities managed jointly between the UK finance team and shared finance resource.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be fluent in both Chinese and English, speaking and written
• Ideally be ACCA or AAT qualified
• Have experience as a Finance Manager, Financial Controller or a comparable senior finance level.
• Have proven ability to lead, support and develop finance team members.
• Have experience managing teams across both office-based and remote working environments.
• Have strong technical and practical knowledge of management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Have a good understanding of UK accounting standards, taxation requirements, audit processes and statutory compliance obligations.
• Have experience producing monthly management accounts, financial reporting packs and performance analysis.
• Have proven experience managing month-end and year-end financial close activities.
• Have experience in cash-flow forecasting, working capital management and improving financial control.
• Have advanced Microsoft Excel capability with the ability to analyse and interpret financial data.
• Have experience using finance systems, accounting software or enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.
• Have strong attention to detail with a consistent focus on accuracy and quality.
• Have strong communication skills, with the confidence to present financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.

Working hours are Monday to Friday – 9am to 5.30pm.

Benefits include Parking on site, Company pension, Annual company bonus and 23 days holiday plus bank holiday, extra holiday provided for Christmas shut down.