UK Finance Manager Job Description Template 2026

Job purpose

To manage day-to-day finance operations, prepare management accounts, and provide financial insight to support business decisions. Lead a small finance team, ensure compliance, and partner with operational leaders on budgeting and performance.

Key responsibilities

• • Prepare monthly management accounts and KPI reporting
• • Manage budgeting and forecasting cycles
• • Lead month-end and year-end close processes
• • Manage accounts payable and receivable processes
• • Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards (FRS 102, IFRS where applicable)
• • Coordinate annual audit and tax submissions with external auditors
• • Partner with business leaders on financial decisions and analysis
• • Manage cash flow and treasury
• • Lead small finance team (2-5 finance assistants/accountants)
• • Drive process improvement and finance system optimisation

Essential skills

• ✓ Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
• ✓ Strong technical accounting knowledge
• ✓ Management accounting and budgeting experience
• ✓ Financial analysis and modelling
• ✓ Team management
• ✓ Stakeholder management with non-finance leaders
• ✓ Process improvement mindset

Desirable skills

• + Specific industry experience (SaaS, retail, manufacturing, professional services)
• + ERP system experience (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle)
• + M&A or transaction experience
• + FP&A specialism
• + Tax knowledge (VAT, corporation tax)
• + Treasury management experience

Qualifications

Qualified accountant — ACA (ICAEW), ACCA, or CIMA. Bachelor's degree typical. Industry-specific qualifications (CTA for tax, TMA for treasury) valuable for specialist roles.

Experience

Newly Qualified: 4-6 years (post-grad scheme + qualification). Finance Manager: 6-10 years with team management. Senior Finance Manager / Financial Controller: 10-15 years. Finance Director: 15+ years.

UK salary ranges

Working pattern

UK Finance Manager roles typically hybrid (2-3 days office). London-heavy at PE-backed/larger businesses. Standard hours with intensity around month-end (week 1 of each month) and year-end (significant overtime in Q1 typically).

Career progression

Newly Qualified Accountant → Finance Manager → Senior Finance Manager → Financial Controller → Finance Director → CFO. Specialisations: FP&A, controls, treasury, tax, commercial finance.