Hybrid Financial Controller

at Wordsmith AI

• Job title: Financial Controller
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: £85,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: ERP
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

About the role

• Financial Controller responsible for financial reporting and compliance within high-growth SaaS company. Leading finance function to support rapid expansion across UK and US markets.

Responsibilities

• Own the month-end close, ensuring completeness and accuracy across entities (UK, US).
• Oversee general ledger integrity, reconciliations, and accounting policies.
• Manage accounts payable / receivable, revenue recognition, and intercompany eliminations.
• Prepare statutory and management accounts, coordinating with external accountants and auditors.
• Implement robust internal controls, approval workflows, and spend management policies.
• Deliver timely and accurate monthly management reports with variance analysis.
• Support FP&A in producing forecasts, budgets, and board packs.
• Partner with leadership to analyze gross margin, unit economics, and departmental spend.
• Ensure consistent and transparent reporting across ARR, COGS, and operating expenses.
• Oversee cash forecasting and treasury operations across currencies.
• Manage collections, vendor payments, and credit control.
• Optimise burn rate and cash runway, supporting capital efficiency goals.
• Collaborate on funding strategies and manage banking relationships.
• Ensure compliance with UK GAAP / IFRS and local tax laws (UK & US).
• Lead year-end audits, including coordination with auditors and tax advisors.
• Maintain corporate and tax filings, VAT, and payroll compliance.
• Oversee insurance coverage, entity registrations, and risk management processes.
• Drive migration from startup tools (e.g., Xero) to an enterprise-grade ERP (e.g., NetSuite / Sage Intacct).
• Standardise finance processes across teams and geographies.

Requirements

• 5–10 years in finance or accounting, ideally within a SaaS or high-growth tech company.
• Experience managing multi-entity, multi-currency environments.
• Proven ownership of month-end, audit, and compliance cycles.
• Exposure to fundraising or investor reporting a plus.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA preferred).
• Strong technical accounting and financial systems background.
• Advanced Excel / Google Sheets and BI reporting skills.
• ERP or accounting software expertise (Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct).
• Understanding of SaaS metrics and recurring revenue models.

Benefits

• Impact: You’ll build the financial foundation that keeps the company running — clean numbers, reliable data, and control at scale.
• Scope: Own everything from month-end close to audit, cash flow, and multi-entity reporting as we scale
• Tools: Lead the move from startup systems to an enterprise-grade finance stack — automate, standardize, and level us up.
• Exposure: Partner with every function and the leadership team to ensure decisions are grounded in accurate financials.
• Culture: Ambitious, low-ego, and built for speed — we care about accuracy, not bureaucracy.
• Growth: Clear path to Head of Finance or Finance Director as we scale globally.