Job Title: Interim Senior Finance Manager - Financial Reporting Location: Chelmsford Contract Type: Interim (3-6 months) Day Rate: £400-£500 per day DOE

Overview

We are supporting a leading construction business in the appointment of a Senior Finance Manager to provide immediate leadership across financial reporting, audit, and control.

This is a high-impact role requiring an experienced contractor who can take ownership from day one, operate with minimal supervision, and provide stability during a critical period. The role will suit an individual comfortable working in a complex, multi-entity environment with significant joint venture exposure.

Key Responsibilities

Full ownership and oversight of balance sheet integrity, including review, challenge, and sign-off of reconciliations Leading the response to external audit requests (PwC), acting as the primary point of contact and ensuring timely, accurate delivery Managing audit processes across a portfolio of joint ventures, ensuring supporting documentation and system outputs are robust and audit-ready Driving improvements in financial controls, processes, and reporting standards Overseeing and supporting the posting and review of general ledger journals, ensuring accuracy and compliance Providing leadership on technical accounting and reporting issues, resolving complex queries efficiently Supporting VAT-related queries, including investigation and resolution of blocked VAT items Extracting, analysing, and validating financial data from systems to support reporting and audit requirements Partnering with internal stakeholders across finance and operations to ensure alignment and delivery

Key Requirements

Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) Strong track record in financial reporting and balance sheet ownership within a complex environment Extensive experience managing external audits and dealing with senior auditors Proven ability to operate at a senior level, taking ownership and leading processes independently Strong technical accounting knowledge and attention to detail Advanced understanding of double entry, journals, and financial controls Confident stakeholder engagement across finance and non-finance teams

Highly Desirable

Experience within construction / housebuilding environments Strong working knowledge of COINS ERP system Experience managing or reporting on joint ventures (JVs) Exposure to Anaplan or similar planning/reporting tools

Candidate Profile

Senior, credible finance professional able to lead from the front Comfortable working in ambiguity and driving outcomes without detailed direction Strong problem-solving capability with a hands-on approach Able to quickly embed into a team