Interim Finance Manager

Location: Bristol (hybrid)

Rate: £350 - £400 per day (Inside IR35)

Duration: 3-6 months

We’re working with a growing, owner-led business that needs an Interim Finance Manager to provide short-term cover while a permanent hire is made. The brief is simple: keep finance running smoothly, deliver reliable management accounts, and hand over cleanly to the incoming permanent lead.

This is a hands-on interim role, ideal for someone who enjoys being the steady pair of hands rather than parachuting in to overhaul everything.

The Assignment

Reporting into senior leadership, you’ll take ownership of business-as-usual finance, supported by a small team.

Your focus will include:

• Producing accurate monthly management accounts
• Maintaining cashflow forecasts, accruals and prepayments
• Overseeing day-to-day transactional finance (AP, AR, payroll liaison)
• Supporting VAT returns and routine statutory compliance
• Providing clear financial information to non-finance stakeholders
• Ensuring processes are followed and documented where needed
• Delivering a structured, thorough handover to the permanent hire

This is about stability, clarity and control, not transformation.

What You Bring

This role will suit an interim who’s comfortable getting stuck in and keeping things running without drama.

You’ll likely bring:

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
• Strong experience producing management accounts end-to-end
• Confidence operating in an SME or owner-managed environment
• Working knowledge of Xero or similar cloud-based systems
• Solid Excel skills
• A calm, pragmatic approach and clear communication style
• Previous interim or contract experience (helpful, not essential)

About The Business

We're supporting a fantastic, Bristol-based professional services SME with the search for a new Financial Controller. The business sits at ~£10m revenue, and has experienced steady growth in recent years in particular.

Now undertaking a strategic shift in optimising a broad range of processes across the company, advancing their cross-departmental integrations, and tapping further into AI and the advantages it can bring to their industry.

About The Role

This is a number one finance position, reporting to the MD and Board.

The role will assume total responsibility for financial operations & controls, financial leadership and people management, transactional finance processes, cashflow and reporting, and budgeting and commercial support to the SLT and wider business Heads.

The role offers hybrid working in central Bristol, ideally at a minimum of 2 days on site.

About The Candidate

We're looking for a fully qualified accountant who is experienced in an SME environment. The role will be dynamic, "no two days the same", requiring the Financial Controller to be confident in reaching out to your peers to find out what you don't know.

Ideally, you shall have experience in a number one role, but we are also very much open to someone making the step up from a 2ic position.

A services background is strongly preferred but not an essential requirement. Your ability to be a trusted leader to the MD and Board, showing confidence in delivering key reporting and presentations, will be highly advantageous.