Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited

Finance Analyst Dover (Hybrid Working) Competitive Salary + Study Support Our industry-leading Dover-based client is seeking a highly analytical Finance Analyst to join their finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys working with large data sets, advanced Excel reporting, data manipulation, and financial analysis alongside traditional accounting responsibilities. The role will play a key part in transforming complex financial and operational data into meaningful insights, supporting decision-making across the business. Advanced Excel skills and a naturally analytical mindset are essential. Key Responsibilities Analyse and manipulate large financial data sets to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement. Prepare and maintain complex Excel-based reports, dashboards, and reconciliations. Perform balance sheet reconciliations, including bank and intercompany accounts. Assist with the preparation of monthly management accounts and month-end reporting. Ensure data integrity across multiple systems, reconciling Sage transactions and verifying Trial Balance accuracy. Produce monthly gross profit analysis, variance reporting, and accrual calculations. Analyse overhead spend, prepayments, and accruals to support accurate financial reporting. Support the Sales Ledger and Purchase Ledger functions with reporting, analysis, and data-driven problem solving. Develop and improve reporting processes through automation and enhanced use of Excel. Provide ad hoc financial analysis and management information to support business decision-making. Key Requirements Part-qualified or currently studying towards ACCA, CIMA, or ACA. Advanced Excel skills are essential, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, IF statements, data validation, Power Query, and working with large volumes of data. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex information. Experience preparing management accounts and undertaking balance sheet reconciliations. Comfortable handling large data sets and identifying trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement. Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and accuracy. Experience with reporting tools, data visualisation, or finance systems would be advantageous. Benefits Hybrid working. Study support following successful completion of probation. Employee rewards scheme. Enhanced pension scheme. Generous holiday allowance. Death in service benefit. Opportunity to develop analytical and commercial finance skills within a market-leading organisation.

Payroll Team Lead Kings Hill, Hybrid (2 days in the office) Paying up to £37k DOE Cobb & Jones are working with a large business based in Kings Hill, they are looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Administrator to support the smooth running of the end-to-end payroll cycle, while helping to develop and support a busy payroll team. This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys both the technical detail of payroll processing and the people side of managing and mentoring a team, all while working closely with senior stakeholders across the business. Key Responsibilities Day to Day: Support the end-to-end payroll cycle, including hands-on processing where required. Review regular payroll runs to ensure accuracy (first-line checks). Support system-wide calculations within the pay cycle, including transfers between payroll companies and payroll number allocation for re-hired employees. Identify and report any over- or underpayments, providing sufficient supporting evidence. Complete manual system backups in line with the agreed schedule. Support with HMRC communications, including tax code downloads, FPS and EPS submissions. Assist with closing payroll cycles and report running. Support the Payroll Manager with outstanding requests and escalations within the payroll portal. Team & People: Mentor and support the team, assisting with training and continued professional development. Identify and escalate performance issues or training needs to the Payroll Manager. Recognise and report strong performers, and provide positive feedback to the team where warranted. Carry out weekly one-to-ones with team members. Provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence and critical processing. Keep up to date with changes to payroll legislation. Communication: Develop and maintain relationships with on-site teams to ensure information flows are reliable, accurate and timely. Monitor the payroll portal, responding to and resolving requests in line with agreed Service Level Agreements. Support stakeholders via telephone, ensuring all requests are logged and handled professionally. Review central email inboxes to ensure timely completion of requests. Strategy & Improvement: Work with the Payroll Manager to maintain and review payroll calendars, planning resource and monitoring payroll cycles. Review existing controls, recommending improvements and identifying areas of risk. Work with senior colleagues across the business to manage expectations, communication and issue resolution. Support the implementation of new systems and processes, providing training to the team where required. Complete monthly control account reconciliations. Role Requirements Proven experience in a payroll role, ideally with some experience leading, mentoring or supervising others. Strong working knowledge of end-to-end payroll processing, including HMRC requirements such as FPS and EPS submissions. Experience with multi-site or multi-company payroll would be an advantage, given the complexity of this payroll function. Confident using payroll systems, with strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to checks and reconciliations.

Financial Controller Lenham Paying Circa £80k Location: Lenham Contract: Full time, permanent Salary: Circa £80k Reporting to: Finance Director The opportunity We are exclusively partnered with an established Kent business to recruit a Financial Controller, reporting directly to the Finance Director. We have worked with the Finance Director for a number of years, and they are a big part of why this role is worth a look. They want to give the Financial Controller real freedom and autonomy: their approach is to set direction, back your judgement and remove obstacles, not to check every decision or manage you closely. If you have been in roles where you were trusted with the title but not the responsibility, this is the opposite. You will take day-to-day leadership of the finance function, owning month-end, controls, audit and tax compliance, and leading the transactional finance team. There is also genuine scope to shape how finance works, improving processes and reporting so the business gets reliable information to support its commercial decisions. What you'll be doing Lead the month-end close, ensuring timely and accurate monthly management accounts and reporting packs Review balance sheet reconciliations and make sure all control accounts are properly maintained Oversee and review VAT and PAYE calculations, ensuring VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax are paid accurately and on time Analyse financial performance, highlighting key variances and risks to the Finance Director Maintain a robust financial control environment and continually improve reporting processes Coordinate the annual external audit Manage, develop and mentor the transactional finance team, including accounts payable and accounts receivable Identify and lead improvements to finance processes About you Essential Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) Experience as a Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Finance Manager or Senior Management Accountant Experience managing and developing a finance team Strong technical accounting knowledge and a solid understanding of financial controls Experience managing external audits Good knowledge of UK tax compliance, particularly VAT Excellent Excel skills and experience using ERP systems Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines You'll get the most from this role if you work best when trusted to get on with it, take ownership without needing close direction, and want the freedom to improve how things are done.

Interim Head of FP&A - 6 Months with view to becoming permanent Location: Medway, Kent (hybrid: 2 days in the office, 3 from home) Contract: Interim, initially 3-6 months, with the opportunity to go permanent Rate: FTE £90k or £400 - £500 per day inside IR35 Start: Immediate availability preferred; end of October at the latest Reporting to: Chief Financial Officer The opportunity This is a chance to step straight into a senior FP&A role reporting to the CFO, with a team of Finance Business Partners behind you and a clear route to a permanent position. The business wants someone who can make an impact quickly. You will take ownership of budgeting and forecasting, build the models that support planning and strategic decisions, and make sure finance is influencing the business rather than just reporting on it. You will join a friendly, committed finance team, where good work is noticed and there is real scope to add value early. It will suit a qualified FP&A or commercial finance professional who is available now, enjoys working closely with senior stakeholders, and wants an interim role that could become a long-term position. What you'll be doing Lead the annual budget, working closely with business unit leaders to make sure next year's plans are robust and realistic Run the monthly forecasting process Build and maintain financial models to support business planning and strategic initiatives Analyse month-end financial and operational results, turning them into clear insight for the CFO and wider business Track KPIs and explain what is driving performance Analyse revenue, gross margin, operating costs and working capital Lead and develop a team of Finance Business Partners Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, keeping finance at the centre of how the business makes decisions About you Essential Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) Experience producing budgets and forecasts at a senior level Proven business partnering experience, with the credibility to influence stakeholders inside and outside the business Strong Excel and financial modelling skills Experience working to tight deadlines A self-starter, confident working on your own initiative from day one Strong communication skills, able to explain the numbers clearly to non-finance colleagues Available to start by the end of October, ideally immediately Why apply Direct reporting line to the CFO Leadership of a Finance Business Partner team A genuine opportunity to go permanent for the right person Hybrid working, 3 days from home FTC to £90k or day rate between £400 - £500 per day through PAYE (inside IR35) How to apply Apply with an up-to-date CV, your availability and your day rate expectations, and we will be in touch quickly to talk it through. As the start date is close, early applications are encouraged. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Interim Deputy Group Financial Controller Location: West Malling (Hybrid Working, 2 days in office) Contract: 3 - 6 Month FTC Salary: £85k - £95k FTE, DOE + 20% bonus + additional benefits Reporting to: Group Financial Controller Start Date: Available to start immediately or by the end of October The opportunity A large, multi-site service organisation, part of a wider group, is looking for a Deputy Financial Controller to join the business on an interim basis, to take overall accountability for management accounting, head office accounting, group balance sheet control, forecasting and accounts payable. It will suit an experienced immediately available finance leader who enjoys building a well-run function as much as the technical work: someone who sets a clear operating rhythm, develops their direct reports to work independently, and wants month-end, year-end and audit to run with minimal firefighting. What you'll be doing Leadership and control Lead, coach and performance-manage the functional leads, developing them to operate independently within the agreed control framework Deputise for the Group Financial Controller as required Ensure every process has a named owner, every control is identified, and there is a clear audit trail of adherence Create, develop and enforce processes, policies, reconciliations, checklists and internal controls Set weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting rhythms, using agreed KPIs to track team performance, and make sure risks, errors and control gaps are logged and resolved promptly Management accounts and balance sheet Oversee the timely, accurate preparation and consolidation of the group's monthly management accounts Lead monthly dashboard discussions with operational management, identifying financial risks, opportunities and actions Take responsibility for the group balance sheet, ensuring reconciliations are completed and independently reviewed Lead quarterly balance sheet reviews and the quarterly management accounts process, maintaining year-end readiness and alignment with parent company requirements Oversee ledger governance, including the chart of accounts, access rights and period and year-end controls Support the corporate accounting function through month-end, year-end and external audit Forecasting Own and coordinate the rolling forecast, including the bi-weekly outlook and the annual forecast and planning cycle Work with operational and finance stakeholders to make sure forecasts are evidence-based, and constructively challenge submissions Analyse performance against budget and forecast, explain material variances, and develop scenario and sensitivity analysis to support decisions Accounts payable Oversee the accounts payable function, including invoice processing, payment runs, expenses, petty cash, and prepaid and virtual cards Maintain robust controls over supplier onboarding, master data, payment approvals and bank detail changes, with clear segregation of duties Keep spend controls proportionate and effective without getting in the way of operational efficiency Monitor KPIs on timeliness, accuracy, control adherence and aged creditors, and build strong relationships with procurement, suppliers and operational teams About you Essential Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) Significant experience in a financial control role, including management accounts consolidation and balance sheet ownership A track record of leading and developing finance teams, including managers or functional leads Experience owning or coordinating rolling forecasts and variance analysis Experience overseeing accounts payable, with a strong grasp of payment and supplier controls Confident with ERP ledger governance, and strong Excel skills Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, comfortable working with operational leaders Highly organised, with a structured approach to deliverables, KPIs and continuous improvement Desirable Experience in a multi-site service environment

Deputy Group Financial Controller Location: West Malling (Hybrid Working) Contract: Full time, permanent Salary: £85k - £95k DOE + 20% bonus + additional benefits Reporting to: Group Financial Controller The opportunity A large, multi-site service organisation, part of a wider group, is looking for a Deputy Financial Controller to take overall accountability for management accounting, head office accounting, group balance sheet control, forecasting and accounts payable. Reporting to the Group Financial Controller and deputising as required, you will lead a team of functional leads and make sure each area runs with clear ownership, defined deliverables, robust controls and effective reporting. Discipline and audit trail matter, but the brief goes beyond control: you will drive continuous improvement and give the business clear insight into financial and operational performance. It will suit an experienced finance leader who enjoys building a well-run function as much as the technical work: someone who sets a clear operating rhythm, develops their direct reports to work independently, and wants month-end, year-end and audit to run with minimal firefighting. What you'll be doing Leadership and control Lead, coach and performance-manage the functional leads, developing them to operate independently within the agreed control framework Deputise for the Group Financial Controller as required Ensure every process has a named owner, every control is identified, and there is a clear audit trail of adherence Create, develop and enforce processes, policies, reconciliations, checklists and internal controls Set weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting rhythms, using agreed KPIs to track team performance, and make sure risks, errors and control gaps are logged and resolved promptly Management accounts and balance sheet Oversee the timely, accurate preparation and consolidation of the group's monthly management accounts Lead monthly dashboard discussions with operational management, identifying financial risks, opportunities and actions Take responsibility for the group balance sheet, ensuring reconciliations are completed and independently reviewed Lead quarterly balance sheet reviews and the quarterly management accounts process, maintaining year-end readiness and alignment with parent company requirements Oversee ledger governance, including the chart of accounts, access rights and period and year-end controls Support the corporate accounting function through month-end, year-end and external audit Forecasting Own and coordinate the rolling forecast, including the bi-weekly outlook and the annual forecast and planning cycle Work with operational and finance stakeholders to make sure forecasts are evidence-based, and constructively challenge submissions Analyse performance against budget and forecast, explain material variances, and develop scenario and sensitivity analysis to support decisions Accounts payable Oversee the accounts payable function, including invoice processing, payment runs, expenses, petty cash, and prepaid and virtual cards Maintain robust controls over supplier onboarding, master data, payment approvals and bank detail changes, with clear segregation of duties Keep spend controls proportionate and effective without getting in the way of operational efficiency Monitor KPIs on timeliness, accuracy, control adherence and aged creditors, and build strong relationships with procurement, suppliers and operational teams About you Essential Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) Significant experience in a financial control role, including management accounts consolidation and balance sheet ownership A track record of leading and developing finance teams, including managers or functional leads Experience owning or coordinating rolling forecasts and variance analysis Experience overseeing accounts payable, with a strong grasp of payment and supplier controls Confident with ERP ledger governance, and strong Excel skills Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, comfortable working with operational leaders Highly organised, with a structured approach to deliverables, KPIs and continuous improvement Desirable Experience in a multi-site service environment

Finance Manager Ashford, office based Paying £45k - £55k DOE I am currently working on behalf of an established and growing organisation to recruit a commercially astute and hands-on Finance Manager to join their team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional who enjoys being involved across the full breadth of the finance function and who can combine strong financial controls with a commercially focused approach. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors / Managing Director, you will take ownership of the day-to-day financial operations while providing meaningful financial insight to support business performance and decision-making. The Role As Finance Manager, your responsibilities will include: Preparing comprehensive monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet and detailed variance analysis against budgets and forecasts. Acting as the key point of contact for external accountants and auditors. Leading, supporting and mentoring members of the finance team. Overseeing VAT returns and CIS compliance, ensuring all statutory obligations are met accurately and on time. Preparing year-end information and supporting documentation for the external accountants. Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date fixed asset register. Overseeing subcontractor processes, including accurate deductions, verification and payment applications. Supporting and overseeing Credit Control and Accounts Payable functions. Ensuring prompt invoicing and proactive collection of outstanding debts. Working closely with commercial and operational teams to improve cash flow and financial performance. Providing management with meaningful analysis and insight into profitability, costs, cash flow and business performance. Identifying opportunities to strengthen financial controls, processes and reporting. About You The successful candidate will be a confident and commercially minded finance professional who is comfortable operating in a hands-on environment. You will ideally have: Previous experience in a Finance Manager, Management Accountant or similar senior finance position. Strong experience preparing monthly management accounts and financial reporting. A good understanding of VAT and CIS, including domestic reverse-charge VAT. Experience managing or supporting a finance team. Strong Excel skills and confidence working with accounting systems. If you're looking for a role where you can take ownership, add value and play an important part in a growing organisation, I would be keen to hear from you.