Financial Controller | AI Enabled Finance Operations

Pencil

10h•Remote

About The Position

Pencil is hiring a Financial Controller to become the senior owner of financial controls, cash flow, and day-to-day processes across its finance function. Reporting to the Head of Finance, this newly created role will build the controls and process layer as the company scales. The role works closely with a lean team and supports the Senior Management Accountant on revenue recognition and the Finance Manager on accounts payable and month-end close. Candidates must be based in the United Kingdom. The Financial Controller owns the controls framework, month-end close oversight, cash flow and treasury, and senior financial judgement calls. The role also aims to streamline finance operations by making effective use of AI. Success includes timely and accurate management accounts, reliable cash flow forecasts, fewer audit findings and control exceptions, effective AP and revenue recognition processes, an optimized capex process, and demonstrated efficiency gains through AI-enabled workflow automation.

Requirements

Qualified accountant with ACCA, ACA, or CIMA qualification.
Must have UK experience.
Five years of finance experience, including two years of industry experience.
Experience owning financial controls and processes in a fast-paced scaling business; SaaS or technology experience is ideal.
Ability to manage cash flow independently, including signing off bank payments.
Track record of making and standing behind senior judgement calls on matters such as accruals, revenue treatment, and risk.
Confidence working with modern finance tools such as Xero, ApprovalMax, Maxio, or equivalent.
Demonstrable AI skills applied to optimizing finance workflows and efficiency.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a SaaS or technology business.

Responsibilities

Own and continuously strengthen the internal control framework across procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, payroll, and expenses, and run a recurring monthly operational hygiene review.
Give final review to management accounts, revenue recognition, and accounts payable runs prepared by the Finance Manager and Senior Management Accountant; conduct the first review of monthly payroll before Head of Finance approval.
Own monthly workings for internally developed costs and ensure appropriate audit controls.
Own cash flow forecasting and treasury, including final sign-off on bank payments.
Provide senior judgement and support on complex revenue recognition questions, accounts payable, and cost management.
Own escalation relationships, including banking queries, calls, and vendor/software ownership, as well as the finance function's AI usage policy.
Streamline finance operations using AI.
Deliver a consistent, accurate, and timely monthly close and management accounts sign-off.
Optimize working capital, maintain clean and timely cash flow forecasts, and prevent unauthorised payments.
Reduce audit findings and control exceptions, ensure AP and revenue recognition processes run without backlog, optimize the capex process, and automate finance workflows with AI without affecting quality.