Financial Controller (6 Month Fixed-Term Contract) in London

About the role

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective.

By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth and shaping the future of UK finance services.

Operations Finance and Corporate Services look after the finances and working environment to protect our reputation and enable us to meet our objectives.

The division focuses primarily on customer service, providing both support and appropriate challenge to the wider business to help ensure we utilise available resources in the most effective, efficient and economical way.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Financial Control team within Finance and Corporate Services.

Reporting to the Head of Finance, Strategy & Reporting, the Financial Controller will oversee statutory reporting under UK-adopted IFRS, the external audit process, treasury and tax compliance, while supporting continuous improvement across finance processes and controls.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and develop the Financial Control team, setting clear objectives, promoting high performance and a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Oversee the Accounting Advisory Group, ensuring compliance with IFRS requirements and statutory reporting obligations.
• Act as the primary liaison with external auditors completing their planning and interim audit procedures.
• Provide strategic oversight of all tax matters, ensuring full compliance with relevant tax regulations, managing relationships with HMRC and external advisors and promoting tax awareness across the organisation.
• Maintain the integrity of the General Ledger and Balance Sheet, ensuring robust financial controls, reconciliations, documentation and accounting processes are in place.
• Manage central accounting activities, including fixed assets, pension accounting, balance sheet governance and compliance with IFRS/IAS standards.
• Oversee all treasury activities, including cash flow forecasting, investment management and maintaining banking and treasury relationships.
• Ensure finance policies, standards and procedures remain effective, up to date and compliant, supporting strong financial governance across the organisation.
• Collaborate with other areas in Finance and wider business stakeholders to support process improvements, deliver insightful analysis, manage ad-hoc projects and support responses to regulatory and Freedom of Information requests.
• Support delivery of Finance transformation projects relevant to the team, including system upgrades, working closely with IT Product teams where required.

This role is graded as: Senior Manager - Corporate.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)
• Private healthcare with Bupa
• Life assurance
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8%
• Income protection

Qualifications

• Knowledge of VAT return preparation and broader corporate taxation matters.
• Extensive financial controls and systems knowledge, with experience designing, reviewing and enhancing operational and financial control frameworks, supported by a good understanding of finance technology and ERP systems.
• Extensive technical accounting experience, including IFRS, with the ability to provide trusted advice on complex accounting matters and ensure the integrity of financial statements.
• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with substantial post-qualification experience (typically 10+ years), including external audit and financial reporting experience.
• Well-developed organisational and prioritisation skills, with a direct approach and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities while ensuring timely delivery.
• Demonstrable experience delivering continuous improvement and transformation initiatives within a central finance or corporate finance function.
• Experience of working with Workday or similar cloud-based finance systems.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing and developing effective finance teams within a complex organisation.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior leaders, auditors and external partners.
• Knowledge of Partial exemption special method (PESM) VAT.
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