Finance Manager, UK

At NOVENCO Building & Industry, we combine Danish engineering excellence with innovative solutions that make buildings safer, more energy efficient, and environmentally responsible.

In the UK, we design, install, and maintain life safety smoke ventilation systems and energy-efficient airflow solutions across commercial, industrial, healthcare, education, and public sector facilities. As our UK business continues to grow, we're looking for a commercially minded Finance Manager to strengthen financial performance and support strategic decision-making.

Delivering profitable engineering projects requires more than accurate financial reporting. It requires strong commercial insight, disciplined project financial management, and the ability to identify risks before they impact business performance.

As our Finance Manager, you will partner directly with the UK Managing Director and leadership team, supporting financial planning, project performance, forecasting, and commercial decision-making across the UK business. Working closely with Group Finance in Denmark, you'll help strengthen financial governance while improving profitability, forecasting accuracy, and operational performance.

This is a standalone finance leadership role with significant autonomy and visibility across the business.

• Partner with the UK Managing Director and leadership team to improve commercial performance by delivering monthly reporting, financial insights, and actionable recommendations across the UK business.

• Lead forecasting and budgeting across revenue, order intake, project performance, SG&A, and annual business planning, improving financial visibility and decision-making.

• Perform monthly P&L variance analysis against budget and prior year, identifying key financial drivers and recommending actions that improve profitability.

• Drive monthly project financial reviews with Project Managers, strengthening project budgeting, WIP management, cost control, forecasting accuracy, and financial discipline across multiple live engineering projects.

• Review customer contracts, including JCT contracts, purchase orders, milestone payments, retention clauses, variations, and commercial agreements, identifying financial and contractual risks before project acceptance.

• Collaborate with Project Managers, Sales, Operations, and Group Finance to ensure contractual obligations, payment terms, change controls, valuation of variations, milestone billing, and project documentation are effectively managed throughout the project lifecycle.

• Coordinate payroll, VAT submissions, statutory reporting, external auditors, accountants, and insurers while ensuring accurate reporting between the UK business and Group Finance in Denmark.

• Support selected HR administration, office operations, compliance activities, and continuous process improvements that contribute to the ongoing growth of the UK organisation.

We're looking for someone who can combine strong financial expertise with commercial thinking and a business partnership mindset.

You'll likely bring:

• Qualified or part-qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent professional qualification.

• Experience within engineering, construction, manufacturing, or project-based environments where project profitability and commercial performance are key drivers.

• Strong understanding of financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, project accounting, WIP, cost control, and financial reporting.

• Confidence in partnering with senior stakeholders and translating financial data into practical business recommendations.

• The ability to work independently in a standalone finance role while collaborating effectively with international colleagues.

• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems (IFS experience is a plus).

• A proactive mindset with the confidence to challenge assumptions, improve processes, and drive continuous business improvement.

Imagine reviewing a major engineering project before contract approval. During your financial assessment, you identify retention clauses, milestone payment risks, and commercial exposures that could significantly delay project cash flow.

Working closely with the UK Managing Director and Project Manager, you recommend revised commercial terms before project acceptance. As a result, the project begins with stronger financial controls, improved cash flow visibility, reduced commercial risk, and greater confidence in long-term profitability.

This is the type of commercial partnership and financial leadership you'll bring to the role every day.

• Competitive salary, depending on experience.

• Car allowance.

• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

• Healthcare scheme (after qualifying period).

• Life Assurance and Critical Illness cover.

• Pension scheme.

• Cycle to Work scheme.

• Company laptop and mobile phone.

• Professional development through NOVENCollege.

• The opportunity to influence financial performance as part of the UK leadership team while working closely with an international finance function.

You'll be based full-time at our Bowerhill, Melksham office, reporting into the UK Managing Director while working closely with Group Finance in Denmark.

This is a standalone finance role with no direct reports, offering significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape commercial decision-making across the UK business.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis.

NOVENCO Building & Industry UK Ltd is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.