Senior Finance Manager - Bristol

£65,000-£75,000 - Operational Finance
Ref: 838 Date Posted: Wednesday 14 Jan 2026

The Role

This is a broad, hands-on Senior Finance Manager role within a growing SME. Reporting directly to the Finance Director / CFO, you will own the day-to-day finance engine of the business while also playing a key role in forward-looking financial modelling to support future investment, growth initiatives, and strategic decision-making.

The role suits someone who enjoys being close to the detail but can also step back, model scenarios, and provide commercial insight in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Financial Control

  • Full ownership of month-end close, including management accounts, accruals, prepayments, and balance sheet reconciliations

  • Preparation of timely, accurate MI with clear commentary for senior stakeholders

  • Cashflow management, forecasting, and working capital oversight

  • Oversight of transactional finance (AP/AR/payroll), with the ability to roll sleeves up where required

  • Maintenance and continuous improvement of financial controls, processes, and documentation

Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning

  • Lead annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting processes

  • Build and maintain robust rolling forecasts and cashflow models

  • Variance analysis vs budget/forecast, translating numbers into insight

Financial Modelling & Investment Support

  • Develop detailed financial models to assess future investments, new projects, and growth opportunities

  • Scenario modelling and “what-if” analysis to support strategic decision-making

  • Support business cases for capital expenditure, acquisitions, or new initiatives

  • Partner with senior leadership to stress-test assumptions and returns

Commercial & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Act as a finance business partner to non-finance leaders

  • Provide clear, practical financial insight to support operational and strategic decisions

  • Work closely with external advisors (accountants, tax, auditors, funders where applicable)

 

About You

  • ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualified (or equivalent experience)

  • Strong SME background with demonstrable hands-on month-end ownership

  • Advanced financial modelling and Excel skills, with the ability to build models from scratch

  • Comfortable operating across both detail and big-picture analysis

  • Commercially minded, pragmatic, and solutions-focused

  • Confident engaging with senior stakeholders in a growing, less structured environment