Junior Financial Controller

Overview

Derek's is a growing independent sandwich brand, with multiple locations across Merseyside. We pride ourselves on great food, friendly service, family culture and a strong local reputation. As we expand and prepare for our next phase of growth, we need a finance professional to keep our numbers to the highest standards.

Role: Finance professional reporting to the Finance Director, delivering accurate, weekly financial information and maintaining robust financial controls across the business.

Responsibilities

• Produce clear weekly trading reports for all shops, covering sales, gross margin, labour costs and cash position.
• Track variances against weekly budgets/targets and highlight issues for rapid action.
• Provide concise insight to help store managers optimise performance in real time.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist with rolling weekly forecasts and a flexible annual budget that adjusts to trading patterns.
• Work with store managers to refine short-term cost and revenue projections.

Controls & Compliance

• Perform weekly bank and till reconciliations, ensuring all takings match POS records.
• Maintain accurate general ledger entries and support VAT, PAYE/NIC and other HMRC requirements on schedule.
• Prepare information for external accountants and auditors as needed.

Operational Support

• Oversee daily till reconciliations and cash-handling procedures across all outlets.
• Implement simple dashboards so managers can view live KPIs such as sales trends and labour percentage.
• Recommend and introduce process improvements for stock control, waste tracking and supplier payments.

Team & Systems

• New role reporting to directors, requiring initiative and proactivity. Opportunity for role development and to build your team, depending on performance.
• Maintain and enhance our accounting software (e.g., Xero/QuickBooks) and its integration with the POS system.

Skills & Experience

• Part-qualified or newly qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or solid experience in a similar hands-on finance role.
• Strong Excel skills and familiarity with cloud accounting packages.
• Sound knowledge of UK VAT, payroll basics. Multi-site retail/hospitality operations knowledge is a bonus.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to meet tight weekly deadlines.
• Clear communicator who can explain numbers to non-finance colleagues.

Personal Qualities

• Commercially minded and curious about our operations on a day-to-day basis.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, small-business environment.
• Proactive self-starter with a willingness to “roll up sleeves”.
• Hard-working and approachable, with a willingness to listen and learn from colleagues at all levels.

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive salary, depending on experience.
• Staff discount in all Derek’s stores.
• Opportunity to grow with an expanding local brand.
• Access to FREE mental health support lines and counselling.
• Array of discounts at selected brands and outlets.

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