Head of Financial Reporting in Bristol

Be part of a community working together to make science better. A society publisher with the perfect blend of not-for-profit purpose and commercial perspective. Here, we help each other be the best we can be: a team big enough to impact and small enough to care.

We are looking for an exceptional finance leader to take ownership of all aspects of group financial accounting and act as a strategic partner to our executive team. Our organisation is parented by a UK charity and operates a diverse portfolio of businesses with sales in more than 130 countries, supported by legal entities in the UK, USA, China and India.

In this role, you will lead and coordinate all global audit activity, serving as the primary interface with PwC. You will provide authoritative technical leadership across the group on accounting, assurance, and financial control, ensuring high standards and strong governance.

Based in Bristol, you will report directly to the Chief Financial Officer and join a group finance team of around 40 professionals supporting both the Institute of Physics and IOP Publishing, as well as our international operations.

Our finance function is undergoing an exciting transformation, supported by a newly upgraded ERP system and a commitment to improving efficiency, automation, and process excellence. We are investing in our people and systems to create a modern, high performing finance environment.

As a key member of both the Finance Senior Leadership Team and the Senior Management Team, you will play a central role in shaping the direction of the function and driving progress towards our business objectives.

What will you be doing?

• Deliver efficient and effective Group Financial Accounting services across the organisation
• Lead group financial reporting and manage audits for UK and international entities
• Oversee the month end close process and produce accurate month end balance sheet reporting
• Manage external partners and ensure high-quality delivery of group accounting services
• Oversee accounting and reporting for group investments and the pension fund, including liaison with trustee groups
• Manage and deliver group profit distributions and support longer-term working capital planning
• Produce quarterly financial health forecasts to ensure business plans remain sustainable
• Oversee the distribution of Gift Aid to the Institute in line with the Group’s Gift Aid policy
• Management of group insurance arrangements ensuring exposure is understood and adequately covered

About you

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Significant audit experience within industry, ideally gained in complex and international group environments
• Demonstrated ability to plan and lead audits, manage audit engagements, and deliver high-quality ARC reporting
• Strong, up to date technical accounting expertise
• Confidence and credibility when engaging with executive level stakeholders, with the ability to communicate complex technical issues clearly
• A track record of simplifying, improving, and streamlining financial processes
• Strong commercial awareness and sound judgement on technical accounting matters

We know it is unusual for someone to tick every box so, if you don’t meet all the criteria, but demonstrate most of the skills and experience we are looking for, and have the enthusiasm to work with us, go ahead and apply.

We pride ourselves on being a flexible and inclusive employer, if you have a preference to work flexibly, please do apply.

Who We Are

IOP Publishing is a society-owned scientific publisher, providing impact, recognition and value for the scientific community. As the publishing arm of the Institute of Physics, 100% of our profit goes towards public and scientific good.

Why work with us at IOP Publishing

• Purpose: We are a world leader in the development of electronic publishing for the scientific community - working in the interests of science and scientists, we aim to maximise the impact of the research we publish;
• Culture: We offer a truly international culture with offices in Europe, Asia and the US and our reach is global. Our culture is the perfect blend of dedicated and intelligent professionalism, informal, friendly collaboration and authenticity with a social conscience.
• Financial Benefits: a competitive salary starting from £70,000 (Band E), an excellent pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution), a discretionary annual bonus scheme and a range of other useful and cost-saving benefits available through our benefits platform.
• Health and Wellbeing: 33+ days holiday (including bank holidays), plus an extra day’s leave to use for a moment that matters to you, a 35-hour working week, life assurance, cycle to work scheme, dental insurance, health care cash plan, and a great positive working environment in our brand new office in central Bristol - modern airy and designed with all of our colleagues in mind – for work and social time.
• Flexibility: a flexible hybrid working environment to suit everyone’s needs- we don’t need you in the office every day so we can consider applicants from further afield who can travel to Bristol on a weekly basis depending on when face to face time is needed.

And last but not least, did we mention that we are unique? IOP Publishing is central to the Institute of Physics, a not-for-profit society and we gift-aid all our profits to support science through the activities of the Institute.

To apply, please submit your CV through our careers site.

IOP Publishing is an equal opportunity employer. Our goal is to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are built into our identity in a way that is natural and sustainable, visible through the work we produce, our company branding, our professional networks and the communities we serve and support, which includes our employees, talent communities and candidates. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented backgrounds.

We make recruitment and workplace adjustments wherever we can, so please let us know if there’s anything that we can do to support you.

Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for candidates. If, however you already have the right to work in the UK or hold an eligible work permit or visa, we encourage you to apply for this position.