Lead Control Accountant in Haywards Heath

Location: Haywards Heath, West Sussex or Salford Quays, Manchester. Hybrid working arrangement (primarily remote, with one office day per week).

Core skills we're looking for:

• Financial controls & risk judgement – strong understanding of control frameworks with the ability to assess risk and drive proportionate improvements.
• Analytical thinking – confident reviewing complex processes, identifying issues, and recommending practical solutions.
• Influencing & collaboration – able to provide independent challenge and work effectively with senior stakeholders across the business.

What's involved:

• You’ll support the design and continual monitoring of the Group’s financial control framework across Finance and the wider business.
• You’ll ensure appropriate monitoring and escalation are in place for key operating financial metrics.
• You’ll support the administration of training and maintain key policy and procedure documentation across the Group, providing assurance reviews and evidence across teams.
• You’ll support the identification of control issues and ensure these are assessed, prioritised, and addressed in line with agreed governance and risk appetite.
• You’ll work with Compliance, Risk, and Internal Audit to ensure finance KRIs, the risk and control framework, and key controls are resilient, proportionate, and effective.
• You’ll support the ongoing review and continuous improvement of controls across Finance, including those relating to the preparation of all financial statements (internal and external reporting).
• You’ll provide cover during absence for the Head of Tax, Investments and Control.
• You’ll support the administration of horizon monitoring for financial services regulatory change that could impact the Group, providing assessments and recommendations across the Finance function and Senior Finance Leadership Team.
• You’ll lead and deliver targeted reviews across key finance processes, providing clear, constructive feedback and recommendations to process owners.
• You’ll support the development of junior team members through day‑to‑day guidance, coaching, and quality oversight.
• You’ll deliver coaching and feedback to direct reports to achieve KPIs and SLAs, and conduct regular performance reviews, including probationary reviews and annual appraisals as necessary.
• You’ll provide supportive people leadership, helping to create a high‑performing, inclusive team and addressing issues fairly and promptly.
• You’ll support hiring activity where required, helping to attract and retain the right capability for the team.
• You’ll help ensure ongoing compliance with company standards and relevant regulatory requirements.
• You’ll contribute to risk and control reporting and oversight, ensuring documentation and evidence are appropriate, up to date, and fit for purpose.
• You’ll promote a strong risk culture, ensuring the team understand their responsibility to identify, escalate, and report risks.

Experience:

• Internal or external audit experience.
• Newly qualified or significant relevant accounting experience.
• Desirable to have previous exposure in a group accounting function across multiple tax and regulatory jurisdictions.
• Desirable to have previous exposure in SOX, COSO frameworks across a multi‑divisional group.

Skills:

• Ability to influence and coach colleagues in other teams and departments.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications.
• Strong analytical, communication, influencing, and organisation skills.
• A high level of oral and written communication skills, communicating effectively with senior managers, colleagues, internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to drive process improvement, based upon analysis of data.
• Work effectively under pressure and think clearly and logically in challenging situations.

Knowledge:

• Likely to be a qualified accountant ACCA / ACA.
• Knowledge of financial services or similar regulated environment and how this impacts the arrangements within a finance function.

Behaviours:

• Passionate about the value and security of controls and how these lead to efficient and effective control functions across the business.
• Results driven with a constant eye on the detail but understand the audience.
• Empathetic approach to leadership with an ability to get the best out of a wide range of stakeholders.
• A driven attitude to deliver controlled change and rapidly overcome obstacles.
• An agile approach to project management and able to rapidly react to changes in business priorities to take advantage of emerging business and customer opportunities.

Benefits:

People first. We are passionate about our colleagues and are committed to providing an extraordinary working environment. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational and supportive. Benefits include a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of our team. For a full list of perks, please view the benefits page on our website.