Financial Controller

Company: COEL
Apply for the Financial Controller
Location: Cambridge
Job Description:

COEL is looking for a commercially minded Financial Controller to give the business greater financial clarity, control and foresight.

As COEL’s most senior employed finance leader and a member of the Operational Leadership Team, you will lead day-to-day financial control and management information, strengthen project accounting, CVRs and WIP, improve forecasting and cash visibility, and help colleagues act earlier on risks and opportunities.

If you are ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified, technically credible, commercially minded and comfortable working hands‑on with project and operational teams, we would be pleased to hear from you.

About you:

Essential Technical and Leadership Experience

  • Strong financial control, month-end, management-reporting and year-end statutory reporting experience.
  • Practical experience of project accounting, CVRs, WIP, cost-to-complete or comparable project-based controls.
  • Experience producing and challenging forecasts for revenue, cost, margin and cash.
  • Evidence of turning financial information into clear business insight and action.
  • Experience improving Finance processes, controls, data quality and systems use.
  • Evidence of leading and developing a Finance team, setting clear expectations and supporting accountability.
  • Confidence working with senior leaders, commercial colleagues and operational teams.
  • Ability to operate at both detailed and strategic levels.

Personal Attributes

  • Technically credible and commercially minded.
  • Hands-on, curious and willing to investigate underlying information.
  • Clear, concise and able to explain financial issues to non-finance colleagues.
  • Constructive in challenge and willing to address difficult issues.
  • Calm, resilient and able to manage competing deadlines.
  • Practical and proportionate, with a bias towards sustainable improvement.

About COEL:

COEL is a Cambridge-based commercial design, build, fit-out and construction business. We create inspiring, practical and high-performing spaces for clients and operate in a project-based environment where project performance, cost control, cash, margin and timely decision-making are closely connected.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive suitable applications before the advertised closing date.

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Posted: October 5th, 2026