Financial Controller | Post-Production Studio | London in London - Harmonic Group Ltd

Financial Controller | Award-Winning Post-Production Studio | London / Hybrid

Harmonic are delighted to be partnering exclusively with a 150 headcount, £30m revenue post-production studio whose work sits behind some of the best-known names in TV. This is a brilliant role for a Finance Manager or Senior Finance Manager looking for a step up to Financial Controller, with genuine progression and commercial exposure.

The Client

The studio has powered multiple award-winning and nominated titles across broadcast drama, comedy and entertainment, with recent projects picking up recognition at some of the industry's biggest ceremonies, including the Emmys.

With established client relationships with the likes of ITV & BBC, the business are a leader in their space, working on some of the UK's favourite series and reality programmes. They've recently completed a full relocation to beautiful offices in central London and are led by an entrepreneurial C-Suite team. The business operates as a close-knit team of dynamic creatives, operations, and finance professionals who all work closely to drive the business forward and deliver great work.

The Role

This is a role well suited to someone who enjoys real breadth in their day to day. Reporting and working closely alongside the Finance Director, you'll own day to day finance while gaining exposure to commercial decision making and team management. We're looking for a technically strong, but flexible finance professional who will take full ownership of day-to-day finance, including the year-end audit and external auditor relationship, payroll, and the accuracy and integrity of all financial and management reporting.

On the commercial side, you'll also work closely with operations and production to develop costing and profit margin reporting inside the studio's booking system, and partnering with HR and tech on wider financial matters.

The leadership team is entrepreneurial, numbers-led and profitability-focused, valuing the finance team highly as a partner and advisor. The Finance Director is looking for a finance professional who takes real initiative to introduce efficiencies and support in upskilling the team. While the business is on a steady trajectory, there is real opportunity to take on senior duties, and the Finance Director has strong appetite to broaden the Financial Controllers remit over time, with succession planning in mind.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the budgeting, reforecasting and scenario modelling process, tracking performance against targets
• Produce the monthly board pack with clear, meaningful commentary, and turn around ad hoc analysis at short notice for a fast-moving, numbers-led leadership team
• Get hands-on with costing and profit margins within the production booking system, working closely with operations and production to improve how it's used
• Coach and develop a close-knit finance team, working alongside the Finance Director to build capability
• Take ownership of day-to-day finance, keeping the books clean, audit-ready and efficient
• Lead the year-end audit and manage the relationship with external auditors
• Manage the monthly payroll process and related tax, reporting and compliance requirements
• Champion the use of AI and automation to streamline finance processes and improve data quality
• Partner with HR, tech, operations and production on financial matters across the business
• Challenge and push back on decisions where the numbers warrant it

What our client needs to see (essential):

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
• Experience working in an SME environment (<300 headcount), ideally in the creative industries
• Commercial and technical, comfortable getting hands-on and partnering with senior leadership teams
• A confident communicator who will question and push back rather than simply execute

What we'd like to see (non-essential):

• ACA qualified from a top 20 accounting firm
• Experience within media, production, advertising, creative, design, TV, film, music, agency, creative services, entertainment, PR, events, animation, branding, VFX, digital agency, publishing
• Experience managing payroll in-house
• Experience improving financial controls or systems using AI and automation

Package

Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 + company benefits

Location: Central London; hybrid, 3 days in office

Start Date: Ideally ASAP (1-2 months notice ideal)

At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to race, religion, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation.

At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to race, religion, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation.