UK Financial Controller – WH Scott Group

About the role

With over  125 years of industry experience , WH Scott Group is a trusted leader serving clients across Europe. With offices throughout Ireland and the UK, we are expanding our team and now seeking  Financial Controller for our UK Operations, based in London or Bristol.

The UK Financial Controller will take full ownership of all financial operations for WH Scott Group's UK businesses, including WHS (merged with RHC Lifting and Hutcheon Examination Services), ReRopes, and future acquisitions. With revenue expected to exceed £45m in the UK next year, this role will ensure strong compliance, accurate reporting, and efficient finance processes.

The Controller will lead local finance teams, deliver highquality management and statutory accounts, and partner with the Group CFO and Finance Manager on performance review, variance analysis, and integration of new businesses. This role is critical in scaling the UK business while maintaining financial discipline and driving best practice.

Key Interfaces :  Group CFO, Irish Financial Controller, Group Finance & Planning Manager, Local BU Heads, Local Finance Team.

Objectives

Ensure financial integrity and compliance across all UK entities.

Manage the merger of WHS, RHC, and HES into a single corporate entity.

Support growth through successful integration of future acquisitions.

Partner with the CFO and Group Finance & Planning Manager to analyse results, investigate variances, and drive performance.

Introduce standardised WHS finance processes across all UK business units.

Identify synergies and efficiency opportunities from acquisitions and process improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee UK entity monthend close, management reporting, and statutory accounts, payroll.

Ensure timely filing of statutory, tax, and audit requirements.

Manage and develop local finance staff, ensuring training, consistency, and growth.

Support working capital and cashflow management (credit control, supplier terms, treasury).

Partner with the Finance Manager to deliver budgets, forecasts, and variance analysis.

Drive finance process improvements and ERP optimisation across UK entities.

Lead finance integration of new acquisitions, including due diligence and onboarding.

Act as key point of contact for auditors, tax advisors, and regulatory bodies in the UK.

Roll out WHS 'gold standard' finance processes across all business units.

Skills & Experience Required

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with 5+ years' PQE.

Proven track record as a Financial Controller in a multientity or group environment.

Experience in business integrations, system migrations, and process standardisation.

Strong technical knowledge of UK GAAP and IFRS.

ERP systems exposure, ideally Microsoft Business Central.

Excellent leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams.

Commercial acumen with the ability to partner operational leadership.

Target KPIs : KPI

MonthEnd Close Accuracy & Timeliness

Within 5 working days

Group reporting accuracy >

98%

Audit & Compliance

On time, no material findings

Statutory and tax compliance achieved

Entity Consolidation

WHS / RHC / HES merged within timeline

Legal and operational integration completed

Acquisition Integration

Within agreed timelines completion

At least two acquisitions integrated

Cash & Working Capital Management

DSO / DPO targets met

Cashflow forecasts accurate and timely

Synergy Identification & Delivery

Demonstrated savings annually

Supplier consolidation, overhead reduction, efficiency gains

Process Improvements

3-4 per year

ERP workflow, automation, reporting enhancements

Standardisation Across BUs

Rollout of WHS gold standard processes

Consistency in finance practices across entities

Team Development & Leadership

Positive staff retention and development

Strong UK finance team built

What we offer

Opportunity to join a rapidly expanding company

Excellent salary

Targeted bonus

Death in service payment

Company pension scheme

Employee assistance and wellbeing programmes

Subsidised gym membership

Join  WH Scott Group  and be part of a legacy that drives  innovation, safety, and excellence !