Finance Manager job near Runcorn for a growing SME

System: XeroTurnover: £5mReporting: Managing Director; partnered with external accountants for year endHays Senior Finance are working with a growing SME based near Runcorn. This established private company works with leading brands across the country offering a niche service and products. The business has been trading for 25 years and has long-standing relationships with its customers. Due to impending retirement the company is looking to appoint a Finance Manager to take full responsibility for all accounts matters.
As Finance Manager you will own the day to day finance function end to end. This is a standalone role-ideal for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves across transactional accounting while also producing timely management accounts, cash insights and partnering with the leadership team in a growing, project driven environment. You’ll also liaise with the external accountants, who sign off the year end accounts.
Key responsibilities

• Own all transactional finance: AP/AR, bank reconciliations, credit control, staff expenses, company card and petty cash, fixed asset register, VAT returns (MTD), payroll input/checks (with provider).
• Monthly close in Xero: journals, accruals/prepayments, WIP and project costings, stock and COGS checks, balance sheet recs, variance analysis, KPI pack and board commentary.
• Cash management: 13 week cash flow, customer collections, supplier terms, payment runs and liquidity planning.
• Project accounting: margin tracking by job, kits/components, engineers’ time/call outs, and post implementation reviews to support continuous improvement.
• Budgeting & forecasting: support annual budget; update rolling forecasts and scenario analyses.
• Year end: manage queries with external accountants through to signed accounts and submission.
• Controls & compliance: maintain fit for purpose policies, support HMRC compliance (VAT, PAYE), and drive process automation in Xero (bank rules, approvals, dashboards, add ons).
• Business partnering: collaborate with Operations, Projects and Sales to improve margins, pricing discipline and working capital.

About you

• Qualified, part qualified or QBE (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with end to end SME finance experience.
• Xero or Sage Line 50 superuser who enjoys streamlining processes and building insightful dashboards.
• Comfortable in a standalone setting-organised, detail driven and proactive.
• Exposure to project/contract or manufacturing/assembly environments is helpful.
• Strong communication skills with the credibility to challenge and support non finance colleagues.
• Confident producing management accounts, cash flow forecasts and board ready packs.
• Right to work in the UK.

Why join?

• Make a visible impact in an established, growing business delivering innovative solutions for blue chip customers.
• Autonomy to shape the finance function and implement best practice processes in Xero.
• Direct access to decision makers and genuine influence on performance, profitability and cash.