Finance Manager

Overall Role Own the end-to-end financial close process and delivery of accurate, timely monthly management accounts for assigned entities. Serve as the primary finance contact and business partner for the CEO(s) of the relevant business(es), providing financial insight and support for operational decisions. Maintain a strong control environment — ensuring policies, procedures, and compliance obligations are met at all times. Coordinate and manage statutory audits and regulatory filings for assigned entities. Oversee day-to-day accounting operations including AP, AR, payroll accounting, intercompany, and reconciliations. Responsible for budgeting and forecasting. Contribute to the continuous improvement of finance processes, embracing digital tools and automation to increase efficiency and accuracy. Key Responsibilities Financial Close & Reporting Own and manage the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes for assigned entities, ensuring completion within agreed timelines. Prepare accurate and complete monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements. Deliver monthly financial reporting packs to the Head of Finance and the entity CEO(s), with clear variance analysis and commentary. Ensure all financial statements are prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards (IFRS/local GAAP as applicable) and group policies. Review and sign off on all key account reconciliations, accruals, prepayments, and journal entries as part of the close process. Maintain a close-process checklist and ensure consistent execution each period. Business Partnering — CEO Act as the primary finance business partner to the CEO(s) of assigned entities, building a strong working relationship based on trust, candor, and commercial awareness. Provide timely, relevant financial analysis to support the CEO's operational decisions — including pricing, cost management, headcount, and investment decisions. Challenge assumptions and results constructively, bringing financial discipline to business planning discussions. Translate financial data into clear, accessible narratives for non-finance stakeholders. Participate in leadership meetings and business reviews as the finance representative. Budgeting & Forecasting Lead the preparation of the annual budget for assigned entities in coordination with the CEO and in line with group timelines and formats. Prepare and maintain rolling forecasts, updating assumptions based on actual performance and business developments. Monitor performance against budget and forecast, identifying variances and driving corrective actions with the business. Prepare budget vs actual analysis and present findings to the Head of Finance and entity CEO(s). Audit & Statutory Compliance Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors for assigned entities, coordinating all audit requests and ensuring a smooth, efficient audit process. Prepare or review statutory financial statements and supporting schedules required for annual audits. Ensure all statutory filings (corporate tax, VAT, payroll, local regulatory) are completed accurately and on time. Maintain an audit-ready control environment year-round, proactively identifying and addressing control gaps. Liaise with external tax advisors and legal counsel on compliance matters as required. Accounting Operations & Controls Oversee day-to-day accounting activities including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, fixed assets, and intercompany transactions. Ensure all balance sheet accounts are reconciled monthly with supporting documentation. Maintain and enforce strong internal financial controls, policies, and procedures. Identify and remediate control weaknesses, escalating material issues to the Head of Finance. Oversee intercompany billing, reconciliations, and elimination entries for assigned entities. Cash Flow & Working Capital Monitor entity-level cash flow and working capital on an ongoing basis, flagging risks to the Head of Finance and entity CEO proactively. Manage AR collections and AP payment cycles to optimise cash and working capital. Prepare cash flow forecasts as required and maintain visibility over short-term liquidity. Support bank account management and payment approvals at the entity level. Process Improvement & Finance Tools Identify opportunities to streamline and automate finance processes — including close, reporting, reconciliations, and AP/AR — leveraging available tools and technology. Document and maintain up-to-date finance procedures and process maps for assigned entities. Support the adoption of group-wide finance systems, tools, and reporting standards. Contribute ideas for AI-assisted or automated workflows to reduce manual effort and improve data quality. Key Deliverables Monthly management accounts and reporting packs — on time and to standard Month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close completed within agreed deadlines Annual budget and rolling forecasts for assigned entities Statutory financial statements prepared and audit-ready Annual audit coordinated and completed with no material findings All statutory filings (tax, VAT, payroll) submitted on time Balance sheet fully reconciled and signed off each period Cash flow forecast and working capital monitoring Finance process documentation maintained and up to date Regular financial updates and business partner support to entity CEO(s) Key Skills & Experience Qualified accountant (CPA, ACA, ACCA, CMA or equivalent) with 4–7 years post-qualification experience in a finance management role. Full proficiency in English. Proven ownership of full-cycle month-end close, management accounts, and financial statement preparation. Hands-on experience coordinating statutory audits and managing relationships with external auditors. Strong working knowledge of accounting standards (IFRS and/or local GAAP), VAT, and corporate tax compliance. Experience as a finance business partner to non-finance stakeholders, ideally at CEO/MD level. Solid understanding of internal controls, balance sheet management, and working capital optimisation. High proficiency in ERP systems and financial reporting tools; comfortable working across multiple entities. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate financial data into clear, actionable insight. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: able to present financials clearly and influence without authority. Detail-oriented, well-organised, and capable of managing competing deadlines independently. An interest in finance technology, process automation, and digital tools is a plus. Who We Are Valsoft is a long-term owner of vertical market software businesses. We acquire, build, and operate mission-critical software companies with a focus on durability, profitability, and continuous improvement rather than short-term financial engineering. Our philosophy is grounded in high standards, clear accountability, and disciplined execution. We believe strong leadership, financial rigor, and operational excellence are essential to building enduring businesses. We favor clarity over complexity, ownership over consensus, and impact over activity. At Valsoft, all team members are expected to: Think ambitiously and set goals that drive real outcomes Act with urgency and decisiveness, even with imperfect information Hold themselves and their teams to consistently high standards Communicate with candor and directness Take full ownership for results We operate with a decentralized model, empowering portfolio companies to run their businesses while maintaining strong governance, financial discipline, and transparency at the portfolio level. The Finance Manager plays a critical role in delivering on this model by ensuring the financial integrity, compliance, and performance clarity of their assigned businesses. This role is suited for a hands-on finance professional who takes pride in technical accuracy, builds strong relationships with business leaders, and is motivated by making a tangible impact on the performance of the businesses they support.