Finance Manager

Harper May is working with a well-established construction and property group delivering mixed-use schemes across London and the South East. The business has grown steadily over the past five years, with a balanced portfolio of residential, commercial, and refurbishment work. Ownership is founder-led, and the group has recently expanded its project pipeline significantly. As the finance function scales to support this growth, they are seeking a Finance Manager to strengthen financial operations and reporting across the business.

The Role
Reporting to the Finance Director, you will manage core finance operations and provide financial clarity to project and senior leadership teams. The position sits at the intersection of compliance and commercial support - you will combine hands-on accounting with direct engagement across projects to help drive cost discipline and inform decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver timely month-end closes, prepare management accounts, and manage the general ledger
• Own project-level accounting, cost coding, and margin tracking across active developments
• Build and maintain cash flow forecasts, working closely with project teams on spend patterns and commitments
• Support annual budgeting, reforecasting cycles, and financial planning at business and project level
• Ensure balance sheet accuracy, reconcile key accounts, and maintain effective financial controls
• Coordinate year-end audit and statutory reporting requirements
• Review finance processes and identify practical improvements to systems and reporting

What we are looking for

• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified (or equivalent hands-on finance experience in a comparable role)
• Proven background in construction, property development, or project-based accounting
• Solid grasp of project costing, cost-to-complete analysis, and profitability tracking
• Strong Excel skills and experience with financial reporting and management accounts
• Able to communicate financial concepts clearly to non-finance colleagues
• Organised, detail-conscious, and comfortable operating across multiple concurrent projects