Financial Controller (Family Office) in London

Job Description: Financial Controller - Family Office - Perm

Equifind are proud to be supporting a newly established single-family office based in London, set up to manage the wealth of its founder following a successful career in investment management.

The office is being built from the ground up, with a small senior team and you will report to the COO.

About the Role

The Financial Controller will own the financial reporting, entity financial management and control framework for the family office and group entities, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer.

The role will cover a multi-asset portfolio spanning public equity, private equity, hedge funds and directs, structured credit, and real estate development, held through a holding company structure with entities incorporated in the UK and Jersey, but tax resident in the UK.

• The family office will have . c. 12-15 individuals when fully operational
• The strategy will be trading exotic products/ equities; Private Equity and Real Estate in London
• You will in a sole role, but manage the outsource auditors/ bookkeepers, the day-to-day interaction with people is most likely to be with outsourced service providers
• An exciting role where you can help shape all processes and procedures and put your stamp on the function
• They work flexibly and are in the office 4 days a week, by Bond Street
• The family office have a foundation, supporting wildlife you can get involvement and exposure to along with the Founder

Key Responsibilities

• Entity Management & Group Structure
• Own the financial administration of the holding company structure and its underlying entities, principally incorporated in the UK and Jersey.
• Maintain the entity register and supporting corporate records; ensure all statutory obligations and filing deadlines are met in each jurisdiction.
• Manage relationships with corporate service providers, company secretarial support and local administrators.
• Maintain intercompany positions, funding flows and reconciliations between entities.
• Financial Reporting & Oversight of External Accountants
• Supervise the outsourced back and middle office finance services by external accountants - reviewing bookkeeping, trial balances, management accounts and statutory accounts preparation, and holding providers to agreed standards and deadlines.
• Review and challenge external output rather than simply accepting it: interrogate balances, question treatment, and ensure the underlying detail supports the reported position.
• Deliver individual entity and consolidated reporting to the COO, bringing multiple entities, custodians, administrators and managers into a single, coherent view.
• Maintain the accounting policy framework, including treatment of investment valuations, consolidation, foreign currency and development costs.
• Own the balance sheet reconciliation process across all entities, ensuring positions agree to third-party records.
• Cash Management & Treasury
• Own cash reporting and forecasting across all accounts, currencies and entities, giving the COO a clear forward view of liquidity.
• Manage day-to-day treasury, banking operations, payment controls and authorisation workflows.
• Track debt facilities, covenant positions, LTVs on Lombard facilities and interest costs across investment and development structures.
• Support the COO in managing relationships with banks, custodians and company administrators.
• Audit & Tax
• Assist the outsourced accounting services provider with the annual audit process, end to end across the relevant entities, acting as principal point of contact for external auditors.
• Coordinate UK corporate tax compliance and reporting in partnership with external advisers, including VAT returns or offshore reporting obligations.
• Coordinate personal tax return preparation and filing for the principal and connected individuals, working closely with external tax advisers and maintaining absolute discretion.
• Maintain the records and supporting information required to substantiate filings across all jurisdictions.
• Controls, Process & Systems
• Design, document and enforce internal financial controls and standard operating procedures - delegation of authority, segregation of duties, payment approval and record retention.
• Act as in-house owner of the accounting and reporting systems, as well as contributing to the selection and implementation of tools that support consolidated reporting.
• Replace manual and spreadsheet-dependent processes with automated, controlled workflows, including the application of new technologies
• Ad hoc
• Maintain project-level records and budgets for real estate development, including capitalised costs, drawdowns against facilities and JV partner positions.
• Over time, take on financial reporting and risk analysis of the financial product portfolio — performance, exposure, concentration, liquidity and cost — to support the COO and owner in decision-making.
• Ideal Candidate Profile
• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with approximately 10 years of experience
• Experience gained within financial services: family office, asset management, hedge fund, private equity, fund administration or a comparable buyside environment.
• Experience to work independently and largely autonomously
• Demonstrable experience of managing and reviewing the work of external accountants or outsourced providers, with the confidence to challenge what is presented.
• Ownership of an audit process, and coordination of corporate tax compliance with external advisers; exposure to personal tax matters is an advantage.
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