Senior Finance Controller

Description

We’re building the next UK-headquartered engineering powerhouse.

There is a gulf between the needs of mission-focused organisations and the development and delivery of the critical technology they rely on. The consequences of this are felt acutely by underserved frontline operators, demanding a new breed of engineering enterprise to bridge this divide.

Rowden exists to meet this need. We design and build systems, infrastructure, and applications to deliver mission advantage to those working to protect the security of the UK and its allies. Rowden is setting a new standard in government technology provision: hyper-efficient engineering, better customer relationships, and rapid assimilation of commercial technology.

We are a dynamic business of approximately 100 people, generating revenues of around £20m annually. Recently featured on The Sunday Times' list of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies for 2024, we are a highly ambitious organisation with no plans to slow down. This role is ideal for someone driven and eager to be part of a growing business and UK success story.

The role

We’re looking for an ambitious and dynamic Senior Finance Controller to support us in the next phase of our journey. In this new role, you will be the most senior finance professional in the organisation, working closely with the senior management team, reporting to the CEO. You will oversee all financial functions, from the day-to-day running, strategic planning and supporting further investment initiatives. It’s an ideal position for a highly capable finance professional who is ready to step into a Finance Director role in the near future.

Key areas of responsibility

As Senior Finance Controller at Rowden, you will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the financial health and efficient financial operations of the business, while providing strategic insights that support continued, sustainable growth.
• Maintaining a tight grip on financial operations, including accurate and timely management reporting, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory financial requirements, including audits and tax submissions.
• Overseeing the development and optimisation of financial systems and processes to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Leading cash flow management, ensuring the business remains able to meet its obligations.
• Partnering with senior leadership to provide actionable financial insights and support strategic decision-making.
• Building and leading a high-performing finance team, fostering a strong culture that aligns to our core values.

Key skills, experience and behaviours

We are looking for a highly capable finance expert that is driven and eager to be part of a growing business. You will gain lots of experience in this role but before you do, you should have the following skills and experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with extensive post-qualification experience.
• Proven background as a Financial Controller or in a senior finance role, ideally within a growing SME environment.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and understanding of UK financial regulations and best financial management practices.
• Demonstrable experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and cash flow management.
• Proven ability to influence and challenge senior leadership.
• Strong ability to translate data into strategic insights.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in financial software.
• Proven analytical thinker, problem solver and decision maker and has strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of supporting all levels of the organisation.

About you

The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, proactive individual capable of managing a company's financial health, ensuring compliance, and driving strategic decisions. The behavioural competencies that we believe are key to success in this role are as follows:

• Meticulous Attention to Detail: You have an exceptional eye for detail and take pride in delivering accurate work.
• Operational Expertise: You have a proven track record of managing end-to-end finance operations in similar-sized organisations.
• Communication Skills: You can explain complex financial information clearly and persuasively to both financial and non-financial stakeholders, in a fast-paced environment.
• Dynamic and Adaptable: You'll understand what it takes to work in an SME environment, where an organisation has to rapidly evolve to meet customer needs.
• Eagerness to Learn: You enjoy learning new things, adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and are motivated to continuously improve.
• Strong Leadership: You inspire and guide your team effectively, fostering collaboration and accountability.

Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are!

We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid-working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.

Finally, if you feel that you don’t meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we’d still love to hear from you!

About Rowden

Our Mission:
To create the best possible technology for frontline operators.

We’re upending the conventions of government technology provision and bringing a leaner, more transparent, and lower-friction approach that reduces waste and places outcome over process. We believe every possible measure should be taken to provide frontline operators in today’s dynamic and rapidly changing world with the technology they need to help keep themselves and others safe.

Our Vision:
We offer fast and flexible solutions to the technical challenges of public sector organisations.

We are specialists in software-centric systems, with deep expertise in developing capabilities for constrained networking environments or with challenging cyber security requirements. But the Rowden difference is as much cultural as it is technical: ‘what we do’ and ‘how we do it’ are equally important. We are specifically organised to create and sustain pace, reduce waste and inefficiency, and drive better outcomes. You’ll see and feel that energy and intent all over our business.

What matters to us?

• Our focus is on the end user. We exist to deliver the best possible outcomes for the users of our systems.
• Pace matters. The problems we solve are urgent.
• Our diverse skills and backgrounds make us better. Our team prides itself on being inclusive and multidisciplinary.
• We are radically honest. Saying what we mean, even when it isn’t easy.
• We are pragmatists. We provide realistic, focused solutions that get to the point.
• We improve continuously. We are relentless in our drive to make things better.