Group Financial Controller

Overview

Our Finance team are trusted advisors to the business—enabling decision-making through insightful analysis, expert opinion, and timely, accurate reporting—while safeguarding the organisation’s sustainability via strong financial control and compliance.

Role Summary

A unique opportunity to join a finance team that is transforming itself to provide strategic financial and commercial support that will underpin the successful execution of the Fast Forward Strategy. The successful candidate will be energetic, an excellent communicator and a credible leader. The Group Financial Controller is part of the Channel 4 leadership team and a senior member of the finance team. They will be expected to deputise for the CFO as necessary.

Role Purpose

The Group Financial Controller (GFC) leads the Group’s financial control, reporting and accounting functions. As a senior member of the Finance Leadership Team, the GFC partners with the Executive to translate strategy into robust financial plans and enables a high-quality control environment. The role deputises for the CFO where required and drives continuous improvement in people, systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Runs the critical financial accounting and reporting processes at Channel 4 including month end, year end audit, annual report preparation and reporting to the Audit Committee.
• Builds collaborative relationships with the Executive, can contribute to key strategic developments and decisions, providing sound insight and judgement.
• Provides succinct written and verbal communication, that simplifies complex financial information for a broad range of stakeholders including Board, Audit Committee, UKGI and the Executive Group.
• Acts as a Deputy to the CFO as needed and works closely with the finance leadership team to transform the finance organisation, across all dimensions including people, systems and processes.
• Identifies opportunities to simplify financial systems and processes, constantly innovating to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the finance operating model.

The Group Financial Controller will have a team of around 30.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Control
  • Own the monthly close and group consolidation; deliver accurate, timely management reporting for Executive and Board audiences.
  • Lead the year-end process (critical accounting judgements, Audit Committee papers, external audit liaison) and ensure clean internal/external audit outcomes.
  • Oversee preparation of statutory accounts for all UK and international subsidiaries (IFRS/UK GAAP as applicable) and ensure strong balance-sheet governance across the Group.
  • Maintain and evolve the core control environment, ensure all policies are up to date, balance sheet reconciliations are actively maintained, and audit points are closed effectively.
  • Maintain policies and a robust control framework; ensure compliance with corporate governance codes and internal delegations of authority.
  • Lead remediation of accounting/process issues & get ahead of issues in advance of audit kick off.
  • Embed continuous improvement to deliver ongoing efficiency gains for the team.
• External Engagement
  • Provide clear, succinct insights that simplify complex financial information for all external stakeholders [UKGI, OFCOM, DCMS, Deloitte etc].
  • Feed into Board/Executive performance updates; support regulated reporting as applicable (e.g., Ofcom/DCMS for broadcasters).
  • Take the lead on relationships with government and activity around the annual report including liaison with external stakeholders as necessary.
• Shared Service
  • Continuously improve procure-to-pay (P2P), expenses and supplier payment processes for efficiency, effectiveness and security.
  • Overhaul the expenses reporting, work closely with the procurement team to identify opportunities to improve processes & ways of working.
  • Oversee royalty reporting and payments to content providers/talent; ensure policies reflect industry practice and contractual obligations.
  • Create targets for Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable, tracking and monitoring on a monthly basis.
• Treasury & Cash Management
  • Maintain a sophisticated cash forecasting model, using all the available data, and identify opportunities to improve the accuracy of our forecast.
  • Actively review the long term cash projections, recommending actions as necessary.
  • Safeguard cash through daily liquidity monitoring, bank reconciliations, and investment discipline aligned to Treasury Policy.
  • Maintain rolling cash forecasting; lead Treasury Risk reporting and optimise funding across RCF/working-capital facilities.
  • Own banking relationships and counterparty risk, FX hedging policies, and covenant/RCF compliance.
• Tax (UK focus)
  • Oversee compliance for direct and indirect taxes (Corporation Tax, VAT, PSA), ensuring timely, accurate returns and payments and the application of relevant reliefs.
  • Manage HMRC engagement and maintain the Group’s low-risk tax status; deliver the annual Senior Accounting Officer (SAO) certification.
  • Provide proactive tax advice on new business models, content lifecycles, talent/royalties, international distribution and evolving legislation.
• Leadership & People
  • Lead, coach and develop a team of around 30; foster an inclusive, high-performance culture.
  • Role-model credibility, professionalism and ethical standards; call out non-compliance with controls in a proactive manner.
  • Act as deputy to the CFO as needed.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with 15+ years’ post-qualification experience, including leadership of medium/large organisations.
• Strong technical finance expertise (IFRS/UK GAAP), treasury and tax management; proven delivery of external audits/statutory reporting.
• Demonstrable management reporting, budgeting/forecasting capability (including rolling cash forecasts, capex and fixed-asset controls).
• Exceptional communication: able to present credibly to senior non-finance stakeholders & senior external stakeholders (including Government).
• Able to simplify complex financial matters into a compelling story for different audiences.
• Relationship-builder across creative and commercial teams; comfortable in a complex, fast-changing environment.
• High personal credibility and integrity.
• Strong at coaching and developing the team.

Qualifications

• Professional accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) – essential.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance
• Free Virtual GP access for employees
• Free Female Health hormone test each year
• Free Tastecard membership
• Financial guidance 1-2-1’s available each quarter
• Discounted Gym memberships
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Holiday Purchase

Hybrid working

From September 2023, Channel 4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week. Having everyone in the office three days a week gives us more opportunity to build our high performing, inclusive culture; to collaborate and to learn and share with each other, as well as helping to coordinate a regular pattern of home and office working days. Employees then have the flexibility to decide where they spend the rest of the working week. All our offices are open five days a week.

Equal Opportunities

Channel 4’s purpose is to create change through entertainment; by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and delivering content which reflects the diversity of different communities across the UK. We are only able to deliver on this remit by having a workforce rich in diversity of thought, background and lived experience. As an employer we encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on disability, age, gender reassignment, gender expression, criminal history, length of time spent unemployed, marriage or civil partnership status, national origin, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Disability Confident Scheme

Channel 4 is a member of the Business Disability Forum (BDF) and has also maintained the highest level of the Department of Work and Pension's Disability Confident scheme - Level 3: Leader. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, we aim to offer an interview to all candidates who have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long-term condition and who meet the essential criteria for an advertised job.

Care Leaver Friendly Employer

Channel 4 is a Care Leaver Friendly Employer. By signing the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter and adopting its principles, we are supporting an immensely talented yet often under-served and under-represented community of young people/adults.

Workplace Adjustments

We are committed to providing disabled applicants a level playing field when applying for a job and support whilst employed to perform to the best of their ability and develop their careers.