---
title: 'Head of Financial Control at Motorway'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-financial-control-motorway-london-34hmfwhbszfa'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-19'
---

# Head of Financial Control at Motorway

- **Company:** Motorway
- **Location:** London, United Kingdom
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-10-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-19
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/motorway/5ba2c031-0c00-46ce-bbb2-9044852a0b9d

## Job description

## About Motorway

Motorway is the UK's largest online car-selling platform. We connect private sellers directly with over 8,000 dealers nationwide. Our online platform helps sellers achieve great prices for their cars while giving dealers fast, reliable access to the stock they want for their dealerships. Founded in 2017, our award-winning, technology-led approach has redefined the experience of selling a car. Motorway is backed by some of the world’s leading technology investors, having raised £143 million in Series C funding. This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing scale-up at a crucial phase of growth and help change an industry for the better.

## About the role

We’re looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Head of Financial Control. You’ll own financial control, statutory and tax compliance, treasury and finance operations for the whole company, reporting directly to the VP Finance. You’ll be accountable for the integrity of our numbers, for a control and compliance framework that stands up to audit and diligence, and for the finance systems that let us scale without adding headcount. You’ll work closely with Product, Engineering, Legal and Operations, and own our relationships with auditors, tax advisers and HMRC.

In this role, you will:

- Own the integrity of Motorway’s numbers: month-end and year-end close, management accounts and IFRS statutory accounts, and the reconciliations and reviews behind them, so the exec team and board can rely on them without question
- Set and own the control environment: financial controls, policies and delegated authorities that scale with the business, hold up to audit and keep us diligence-ready for any future transaction
- Own tax and regulatory compliance end to end: corporation tax, VAT, PAYE, R&D relief and Companies House filings, our relationship with HMRC, and the tax treatment of new products and commercial structures before they launch
- Lead the audit and adviser relationships: plan and run the annual audit, and manage external accountants, tax and legal advisers
- Own treasury and cash: cash flow forecasting, working capital, banking relationships and payment controls, and the cash impact of commercial and operational decisions
- Be accountable for the end-to-end payments, receivables and payroll cycle, setting the standards and controls the team runs to
- Own NetSuite and the finance systems stack, and lead the move to an automated, AI-native finance function
- Lead and develop the team: hiring, coaching, performance and succession across managers and individual contributors

## About you

- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with substantial post-qualification experience
- Experience in a technology, marketplace or high-growth business, ideally one with high transaction volumes
- Experience leading an AI or automation change in a finance function: redesigning how work gets done, not just adding tools to the existing process
- A record of leading finance teams through growth and change and developing the people in them, with experience of both operational finance and strategic or transformation roles, and a solid grounding in project management
- Hands-on experience of month-end close, reconciliations, and management and statutory reporting under IFRS or UK GAAP
- Working knowledge of UK tax compliance (VAT, PAYE, R&D relief) and experience managing advisers and HMRC correspondence
- Experience owning a cloud ERP such as NetSuite, automating manual finance processes and using data and AI tools
- A strong grasp of working capital and cash flow forecasting, and of the cash impact of operational decisions
- Clear written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain finance to colleagues outside the function and to the executive team and external stakeholders

## About Motorway

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Motorway is the UK’s leading online marketplace that connects private car sellers directly with a national network of verified dealers, using a daily auction system to deliver the best price fast.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C / Venture Capital-Backed)
- **Headquarters**: London, England, United Kingdom (Fitzrovia office) with a second office in Brighton.
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Tom Leathes (CEO) and Harry Jones

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Automotive marketplace, used car sales, online vehicle auctions, fintech (Motorway Pay).
- **Target customers**: Two-sided marketplace serving consumers (private sellers) and B2B buyers (over 8,000 verified car dealers).
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To build a better car market by making car selling simpler, faster, and fairer for everyone.

## Products & Services
- **Motorway (Consumer Platform)**: A fully online service where private car owners get a free instant valuation, profile their car using a mobile app, and list it in a daily auction where 8,000+ verified dealers bid. The highest offer is presented to the seller. Includes home collection, same-day payment via **Motorway Pay**, and automatic settlement of outstanding finance.
- **Motorway for Dealers**: A B2B platform allowing dealers to buy privately-owned used vehicles directly from sellers, bypassing traditional wholesale middlemen.
- **Motorway Remarketing (Enterprise Service)**: A new B2B line launched in 2025/2026 giving dealers direct access to end-of-finance vehicles from fleet and finance partners (e.g., Mobilize Financial Services).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed.
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised is **$308.75M** (approx. £250M+).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Backed by world-class investors including **Index Ventures**, **BMW i Ventures**, **Latitude**, **Unbound**, and **Trinity Capital** (which provided a £25M credit facility in May 2026).
- **Growth Signals**:
    - Over **1 million cars sold** through the platform.
    - Rated **’Excellent’** with **100,000+ Trustpilot reviews**.
    - **84% of sellers** get more than market price for their car (independently validated).
    - Expanded into the **fleet remarketing** space in 2025/2026.
    - Team has grown to approximately **400 employees** across London and Brighton.

## Competitive Advantages
- **True Two-Sided Network Effect**: A large base of private sellers attracts more dealers, which in turn drives better prices for sellers (84% beat market price), creating a powerful flywheel.
- **Tech-First Experience**: Fully online, app-based valuation and listing process removes the friction of physical inspections and haggling.
- **Motorway Pay**: An in-house payment system that enables instant, secure bank transfers on the doorstep, eliminating payment risk for both parties.
- **Trust and Transparency**: No upfront fees (fee only charged on successful sale), combined with verified dealer network and high ratings.

## Strategic Focus
- **Deepening the enterprise & fleet channel**: The launch of the remarketing service shows a move to capture more B2B supply.
- **Scaling dealer services**: Expanding offerings for dealers beyond just auction access (e.g., financing, logistics).
- **Data & AI investment**: Actively hiring a **Principal Generative AI Engineer** and **Senior Marketing Data Analyst**, indicating a focus on leveraging AI to improve matching, pricing, and operational efficiency.
- **UK market dominance**: With $308M in funding, Motorway is well-capitalized to consolidate its position as the UK’s leading digital used car marketplace.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Values**: Described as a community that cares about much more than cars. Core values include “Create new roads” (innovation), “Take the wheel” (ownership), and “Be humble” (ego-free teamwork). Features employee-led D&I, LGBTQ+, and Women’s committees.
- **Hybrid Work**: London office operates on a **hybrid schedule**. Employees can also **work from Europe for up to 4 weeks a year**.
- **Dog-Friendly**: Dogs welcome in the London office on Mondays and Fridays.
- **Perks & Benefits**:
    - Financial: Employee stock option scheme, generous pension, save 40% on a new electric car.
    - Wellness: Comprehensive BUPA private health insurance, 24/7 Employee Assistance Program.
    - Family: Generous maternity/paternity leave, nursery fee coverage.
    - Office Life: Communal lunches, themed breakfasts, sea views in Brighton, and regular social events.
- **Engineering Culture**: With ~400 people and a focus on data and AI, the engineering and product teams are central to the business. Current openings include a Principal Generative AI Engineer and Executive Assistant to the CPO, signaling a high-priority product organisation.

## Sources
1. [motorway.co.uk](https://motorway.co.uk/about)
2. [careers.motorway.co.uk](https://careers.motorway.co.uk/)
3. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/motorway)
4. [uk.linkedin.com](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/motorway-online-ltd.)

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