At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial stewardship and oversee financial control framework for the Group.
- Company: Attivo, a privately owned Lifestyle Financial Planning company focused on client trust.
- Benefits: Negotiable salary, non-contributory pension, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Promotes employee wellbeing and offers excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact on financial governance and performance.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in financial control and governance.
The predicted salary is between 59576 - 70000 £ per year.
About Attivo
Attivo are Lifestyle Financial Planners. We’re a privately owned company. We prefer it that way. It means we’re free to do what we feel is best for our clients and our people. Our work is all about our clients. We pride ourselves on being completely transparent, open and honest – an approach that builds trust with our clients and inspires their financial confidence. Our experienced, highly qualified financial specialists and expert support teams are committed to delivering more for all our clients. Our independent status and unique approach to understanding our clients, their preferences and their motivation, sets us apart. We will build and provide ongoing support for a bespoke financial plan aimed at fulfilling our clients' lifestyle needs. Whether you’re a private client or a business accessing our corporate services, you can rely on a clear, consistent service from your Financial Planner and from our experienced teams.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Head of Group Financial Control to lead the financial stewardship of the Group. As a key member of the finance leadership team, you will oversee the Group’s financial control framework, statutory and management reporting, financial governance, and finance operations. You will lead and develop a team of reporting accountants, drive continuous improvement across finance processes and systems, and ensure the business has scalable controls and reporting capabilities to support future growth. This is a high-impact role requiring strong technical accounting expertise, leadership capability, and a proactive approach to strengthening financial performance, governance, and operational efficiency. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, this role will be responsible for maintaining a robust financial reporting and control environment, ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and compliance of all financial information across the organisation.
About You
You are a qualified accountant with significant experience leading financial control, reporting, and governance within a complex organisation. Combining strong technical expertise with a commercial mindset, you have a proven track record of delivering robust financial controls, statutory reporting, audit management, and high-quality financial information. You bring deep knowledge of accounting standards, regulatory compliance, and financial governance, together with a disciplined approach to risk management and balance sheet control. A confident leader, you are experienced in developing high-performing teams and building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, auditors, advisers, and regulators. Highly organised, resilient, and delivery-focused, you thrive in fast-paced environments and are passionate about driving continuous improvement across finance processes, systems, and controls. Experience within an FCA-regulated, professional services, acquisitive, or private equity-backed business would be advantageous.
Essential Skills and Experience
- ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
- Trained within a Top 10 or mid-tier accountancy practice before moving into industry
- Significant post-qualified experience in a senior financial control role
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting
- Understanding of financial controls, governance frameworks, and statutory reporting requirements
- Proven experience leading complex month-end and year-end close processes
- Experience managing external audits and technical accounting matters
- High attention to detail with strong balance sheet and control discipline
- Highly organised, resilient, delivery-focused, and commercially aware
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience within an FCA-regulated environment (e.g. financial services, wealth management, advisory, or professional services)
- Understanding of UK regulatory, tax and compliance obligations
- Experience in a fast-paced, acquisitive, or private equity-backed business
- Understanding of professional services revenue recognition, WIP, and operational finance dynamics
- Experience implementing or optimising finance systems and reporting infrastructure
Key Responsibilities
- Ensuring robust financial controls, governance, accounting policies, and procedures are in place to safeguard the integrity and accuracy of financial information.
- Leading the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, delivering timely, accurate statutory and management reporting in accordance with UK GAAP and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain compliance with FCA, HMRC, Companies House, and other statutory obligations, including oversight of corporation tax, VAT, and payroll tax reporting.
- Leading external audit relationships, overseeing balance integrity and reconciliations, and ensuring effective financial risk management and control remediation.
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team while creating a scalable finance function capable of supporting future business growth.
- Oversee finance operations and champion continuous improvement, automation, and optimisation of finance systems, controls, and reporting capabilities.
- Act as a trusted adviser to the CFO and Executive team on financial control, technical accounting, governance, and strategic business matters, including M&A integration activities.
- Enhance the control environment through best practice governance, documentation, audit trails, enterprise risk management, and ongoing monitoring of regulatory and accounting developments.
Salary and Benefits
Negotiable depending on experience
- Non-contributory Pension Scheme (8%)
- Private Medical Insurance
- Cashplan
- Income Protection
- Critical Illness
- Death in Service
- Parking allowance
- Generous holiday allowance, rising with length of service
- Work from home and flexible working available
- Excellent culture, promoting employee wellbeing and engagement.
Recruitment Policy
Attivo is committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will endeavour to make the process as accessible and as fair as possible. Please be aware that any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment vetting as outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This may include but not limited to adverse financial history, criminal records, UK directorship and disqualifications check. Attivo do not use recruitment agencies, and we respectfully ask that agencies do not contact us regarding posts advertised on this site.
Head of Group Financial Control in Cheltenham employer: Attivo Group
Attivo is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and growth of its employees while maintaining a strong commitment to client service. With a culture rooted in transparency and trust, employees benefit from a non-contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, and generous holiday allowances, alongside opportunities for professional development within a supportive team environment. Located in a dynamic sector, Attivo offers a unique chance to lead financial control in a company that values innovation and continuous improvement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Group Financial Control in Cheltenham
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Group Financial Control in Cheltenham
Some tips for your application 🫡
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✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Attivo Group.
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