Deputy Financial Controller

Helping others improve and turn their lives around – there’s no better feeling. It’s what we do for thousands of people at more than 150 sites across the UK. Be a part of it.

The Deputy Financial Controller plays a key role within the Cygnet Health Care finance team, taking overall accountability for management accounting, head office accounting, group balance sheet control, forecasting and accounts payable, alongside the relevant functional leads.

Reporting directly to the Group Financial Controller, the role ensures these functions operate with clear ownership, defined deliverables, robust controls, effective reporting and appropriate team development.

The role supports a SOX-compliant control environment, deputises for the Group Financial Controller as required, drives continuous improvement and provides clear insight into financial and operational performance. 

Salary: £90,000 per annum (Eligible for a 20% bonus at the end of FTC)

Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 2 days on site and 3 days working from home

Please be aware this is a fixed-term contract lasting 6 months.

Duties and Responsibilities will include but are not limited to 

• Provide visible leadership and guidance to all team members, creating a stable, motivated team with clear responsibilities. 

• Deputise for the Group Financial Controller as required. 

• Act as a driving force for continuous improvement and the development of a high-performing finance team. 

• Maintain effective communication and stakeholder relationships across Finance and the wider business. 

• Ensure each process has a named owner; each control is identified and there is a clear audit trail of adherence. 

• Define, schedule and monitor functional deliverables, ensuring outputs are completed on time and to the required quality. 

• Establish weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting rhythms, using agreed KPIs to assess team performance, effectiveness and efficiency. 

• Ensure risks, errors, control gaps and escalations are logged, reviewed and resolved promptly. 

• Create, develop and enforce appropriate processes, policies, reconciliations, checklists and internal controls. 

• Support a control environment that meets the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code and SOX. 

• Coach and performance-manage direct reports, maintaining timely one-to-ones, appraisals, development plans and clear accountability. 

• Develop direct reports to operate independently and proactively, with appropriate empowerment and autonomy across their functional areas. 

Management Accounts 

• Oversee the timely and accurate preparation, production and consolidation of monthly management accounts for the Cygnet Health UK group. 

• Ensure monthly dashboard discussions with operational management clearly identify financial risks, opportunities and required actions. 

• Provide weekly and monthly reporting that highlights key focus areas to relevant stakeholders. 

• Maintain and coordinate the bi-weekly forecast for the current and following month, together with the annual forecast and planning cycle. 

• Take responsibility for the Group balance sheet, ensuring assets and liabilities are recorded accurately, and reconciliations are completed and independently reviewed. 

• Lead quarterly balance sheet reviews and the more substantive quarterly management accounts process to maintain year-end readiness and alignment with UHS requirements. 

• Oversee accounting ledger governance, including appropriate maintenance of Sage X3, the chart of accounts, access rights and period and year-end controls. 

• Support the corporate accounting function to deliver smooth month-end, year-end and external audit cycles. 

• Provide timely, accurate and insightful reporting on financial results and functional performance. 

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