Finance Manager / Financial Controller - London

£75,000 - £85,000 per annum (pro rata) | Fixed-Term Contract | Central London

12-Month Fixed-Term Contract | Possible Extension | Hybrid Working

About the Business

A privately owned, vertically integrated residential business operating across the full investment, development and asset management lifecycle within London's rented living sector. The business acquires sites, drives planning and development through to delivery, and retains and operates the completed assets, maintaining full control from land through to tenancy.

With a growing portfolio of build-to-rent and multi-family schemes across London, the business is backed by institutional capital and is entering an accelerated phase of growth. The finance function sits at the heart of the business, supporting investment decisions, development appraisals, asset performance and operational delivery.

The Contract

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension, subject to business needs and performance. The role has been created to support a period of significant portfolio growth and pipeline delivery, and offers a genuine opportunity to work across the full value chain - from pre-acquisition financial modelling through to operational asset reporting. There is real potential for the position to evolve beyond the initial contract term.

The Role

Reporting to the Group Finance Director, the Finance Manager / Financial Controller will take ownership of financial management across the business's operational portfolio and active development pipeline. You will work closely with the investment, development and asset management teams, providing financial insight and control at every stage of the asset lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Investment & Development Finance

• Support investment appraisals and underwriting for new acquisitions, including land, forward funds and standing assets
• Prepare and maintain development cost monitors, tracking spend against appraisal across the active pipeline
• Assist with the preparation of completion statements and financial close documentation for acquisitions and disposals
• Work with the development team on cash flow forecasting across the construction programme
• Review and assess financial performance of assets under consideration, including tenancy schedules and yield analysis

Asset & Portfolio Reporting

• Oversee financial reporting across the operational residential portfolio, including monthly management accounts, P&L statements and variance analysis
• Manage cashflow forecasting, budgeting and financial planning at both asset and group level
• Produce investor-grade reporting packs for institutional stakeholders and the board
• Ensure accurate financial set-up when transitioning assets from development into operations

VAT & Compliance

• Prepare and submit VAT returns, ensuring correct treatment across development, investment and operational activities
• Manage VAT recovery on development costs and apply appropriate partial exemption methodology where required
• Liaise with external auditors, tax advisers and legal counsel as required

Tenant Billing & Operational Finance

• Oversee service charge budgets, reconciliations and cost recovery across the operational portfolio
• Ensure accurate and timely billing of all residential tenants, including rent collection and arrears monitoring
• Partner with the asset management team on lease events, rent reviews and tenancy changes
• Support the wider operations team on supplier payments, payroll and property management costs

Team & Systems

• Line-manage two finance team members across accounts payable and receivable
• Drive continuous improvement of financial processes, controls and reporting systems
• Maintain data integrity across accounting software and asset management platforms
• Support the Group Finance Director with ad hoc analysis and business-wide financial projects

The Candidate

• Qualified accountant - ACA, ACCA or CIMA
• Proven experience in a finance management role within real estate, residential development, build-to-rent or a vertically integrated property business
• Exposure to development finance, cost monitoring or investment appraisal is highly desirable
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with accounting and asset management software (Xero or similar)
• Experience with VAT returns, including property-specific VAT treatment
• Strong cashflow management experience across both operational and development assets
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work across multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Strong communicator, comfortable presenting financial insight to non-finance stakeholders
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial and growth-oriented environment
• Available to commit to a 12-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension

What's on Offer

• Salary: £75,000 - £85,000 per annum (pro rata)
• 12-month fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension
• Hybrid working: 4 days in the office, 1 day from home
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Pension contribution
• Exposure across the full investment, development and asset management lifecycle

Genuine opportunity to extend beyond the initial contract term