Finance Manager

The Role

PhysicsX is building the next generation of AI tools for engineering, partnering with some of the most advanced industrial companies in the world to transform how complex systems are designed, built, and optimised. As we scale rapidly across markets and entities, we’re looking for a Finance Manager to play a critical role in building a world-class finance function that supports innovation, growth, and operational excellence.

This is a hands-on role with real ownership: you’ll combine strong technical accounting with commercial insight, help shape our financial infrastructure, and act as a trusted partner to leaders across the business.

• Act as the go-to lead for our financial audits, owning the relationship with external auditors and ensuring a smooth, high-quality process.
• Own the monthly management accounts process, including group consolidation, balance sheet reconciliations, and month-end close.
• Continuously improve close timelines, data quality, and reporting outputs, balancing best practice with the needs of a fast-moving startup.
• Analyse and clearly articulate the key drivers of financial performance (e.g. revenue growth, R&D spend, utilisation, and cost base evolution) to budget owners and the leadership team.

• Oversee VAT returns, HMRC filings, and statutory compliance across the UK group.
• Work closely with external advisors to develop and execute an effective tax strategy for a growing, multi-entity, international business.
• Coordinate with US externa accountants to ensure compliance with federal and state filings, supporting PhysicsX’s international expansion.
• Support R&D-related tax matters (e.g. R&D tax credits), working with advisors where appropriate.

• Ensure AP and AR ledgers are accurate, timely, and well-controlled by overseeing and supporting finance assistants.
• Help the business make informed working capital decisions, with clear visibility on cash, receivables, and payables.
• Drive short-term cash flow forecasting, and manage weekly payment run reviews and approvals.
• Partner with People on payroll processes, approvals, and reviews across entities.
• Deliver targeted financial analysis that links historical performance to future scenarios, supporting commercial, operational, and strategic decision-making.

• Be curious and proactive in automating finance processes and reporting, reducing manual effort and improving scalability.
• Help identify, evaluate, and implement the right financial tech stack to support PhysicsX as it grows globally.
• Build and evolve a robust but agile financial controls framework, strong enough for scale and audit-readiness, without slowing the business down.
• Bring the wider organisation along on the journey, helping teams understand and embrace smarter financial processes.

• Manage and mentor 2 direct reports, providing clear direction, coaching, and development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing finance culture aligned with PhysicsX’s values

• A qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA) with several years of relevant post-qualification experience.
• Strong technical grounding in management accounts, financial reporting, and group consolidation.
• Data-driven, with a genuine interest in process improvement, automation, and using finance to empower better decisions.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, high-growth, deep-tech environment, balancing structure with pragmatism.
• An excellent communicator, able to build trust with engineers, commercial teams, leadership, and external advisors.
• Experience in a technology, engineering, or R&D-led business is highly advantageous.
• Values coaching and mentorship as core to building a high-performing finance function.
• Invests time in developing others, providing clear guidance, constructive feedback, and support to help teammates grow in confidence, capability, and ownership.