Finance Manager

Harper May is working with a founder-led media and events group that has grown organically over the past eight years, combining broadcast content, live festival production, and B2B conference delivery. The business sits comfortably in the mid-market, with a lean central team and a portfolio of events that deliver across entertainment, corporate, and niche specialist audiences. Recent expansion into new territories and content formats has stretched the finance function, and they are now seeking a Finance Manager to establish clearer controls, sharper reporting, and commercial clarity as they scale.

The Role
Reporting to the Finance Director, you will own the day-to-day finance operation: month-end close, management reporting, cash management, and stakeholder support across a diverse portfolio of events and content projects. The remit is broad and highly visible-you will sit between the board, operational teams, and external advisors, translating activity into numbers and numbers into strategy. The environment is project-led and fast-moving; flexibility and problem-solving matter more than process perfection.

• Lead monthly close cycles, reconciliations, and production of timely management accounts
• Manage budget setting, rolling forecasts, and cash flow across concurrent events and media series
• Work with operations, production, and commercial teams to track costs, margins, and project-level profitability in real time
• Develop and maintain financial controls, audit trails, and compliance documentation
• Support statutory year-end reporting and external audit processes
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve financial systems capability

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified, or equivalent relevant experience
• Proven background in a media, entertainment, events, or similar project-driven environment
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and comfortable producing accurate management reporting
• Commercial instinct-you can explain P&L drivers and margin dynamics to non-finance teams
• Practical systems and Excel skills; experience with cloud accounting tools valued
• Calm, solution-focused approach to working under deadline pressure