Financial Controller

Wave is an independent leisure brand based in the Northeast of England, dedicated to creating high-quality experiences for our customers - whether it's unwinding in a spa after a long week or enjoying adventures on the water with friends. Founded in 2019, Wave quickly grew to achieve £12m+ revenue by 2021, expanding from the UK to sell in the US and EU markets.

Since entering the US market in 2020, we’ve established distribution centres in Kansas. In the EU we’ve established distribution centres in the Netherlands.

Operating both Direct-to-Customer and through retail partners such as Selfridges, B&Q, and Castorama
,our core products include spas and inflatable paddle boards. Recent milestones include the launch of eco foam rigid spas in the UK and US in 2022/23 and the introduction of the world’s first built-in portable spa control unit. By mid-2024, we expanded into B2B with partnerships with Kingfisher, Castorama, and Lowes, growing marketplaces and strengthening our commitment to innovation and exceptional customer experiences.

The FC will play a critical role in supporting the CFO to shape the financial strategy of the business while also managing the day-to-day finance function. As part of the senior leadership team, the FC will provide strategic insights to support business growth, ensure financial stability, and maintain compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements. In a small business environment, the FC must be comfortable with both strategic thinking and hands-on responsibilities.

• Support the CFO and leadership team to develop and implement the company’s financial and business strategy.
• Provide financial insight and recommendations to support strategic decision-making and business growth.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning processes.
• Provide financial input into funding proposals and liquidity planning.
• Support wider business strategy including pricing, contracts, and investment decisions.
• Develop and implement international tax strategies aligned with global business objectives.
• Advise on cross-border transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring from a tax perspective.
• Oversee all aspects of financial accounting, management reporting, and statutory compliance.
• Provide sound financial advice to CFO and wider leadership team
• Ensure timely preparation of monthly management accounts, board packs and financial dashboards.
• Analyse financial results to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor working capital performance and implement improvements in collections, inventory, and payables management.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of annual budgets, and cash flow forecasts.
• Support the wider leadership team’s budgeting and forecasting processes, including variance analysis and performance tracking.
• Collaborate with department heads to develop realistic and achievable financial targets.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, banks, HMRC, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead on funding strategies, including debt/equity financing.
• Preparation of statutory accounts and fillings at Companies House.
• Preparation and submission of Companies House statutory filings.

• Maintain robust internal controls and ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, tax regulations, and other statutory requirements.
• Streamline financial processes and implement best practices suited to an SME environment.
• Oversee payroll, VAT, corporation tax, and other financial obligations.
• Ensure compliance with all HMRC obligations, including VAT, PAYE, Corporation Tax, and other statutory filings.
• Oversee the preparation and review of international tax returns and filings.
• Ensure timely compliance with local and international tax laws.
• Evaluate and mitigate financial risk, including insurance and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee risk management and ensure appropriate internal controls are in place.
• Ensure efficient tax structures for global operations while maintaining compliance.
• Identify and mitigate international tax risks through effective governance and control frameworks.

• Lead…