Associate Director, Financial Reporting

The Role

Lead high‐quality financial reporting at the heart of a world‐leading business school. London Business School is seeking an experienced Associate Director, Financial Reporting to lead the delivery of robust, accurate and timely financial reporting, tax and compliance services across the School, including research grants and fundraising activity. This is a senior leadership role within the Finance Directorate, with significant responsibility for governance, external reporting and stakeholder engagement.

You will be responsible for the day‐to‐day leadership of financial accounting, statutory reporting, tax and regulatory compliance. You will ensure the integrity of the School’s balance sheet, oversee year‐end and audit processes, and provide expert technical accounting and tax advice across the organisation. You will also lead financial aspects of research funding and fundraising, manage endowment reporting, and oversee a high‐performing team delivering critical financial services to the School and its associated entities.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead statutory financial reporting, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant financial statements and regulatory returns.
• Manage all tax and regulatory compliance activities, including corporation tax, VAT, employment taxes and international considerations.
• Provide expert technical accounting and tax advice, including implementation of new accounting standards.
• Maintain full control over the balance sheet, including reconciliations and adjustments.
• Oversee financial reporting for research funding and fundraising, ensuring accurate submissions and reporting to funders and donors.
• Produce high quality financial and management reports for senior stakeholders, regulators and governing bodies.
• Lead year end processes and manage relationships with external auditors and regulators.
• Ensure robust financial policies, procedures and internal controls are in place and continuously improved.
• Oversee central cost centre monitoring, budgeting and forecasting.
• Manage reporting on endowment investments and liaise with external investment managers.
• Lead, develop and motivate a team of finance professionals (up to 8 staff).
• Oversee financial services provided to associated entities and subsidiaries.
• Deputise for the Deputy CFO and represent Finance at senior forums as required.

Who we are looking for

• Fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant experience in a senior technical accounting or financial reporting role within a medium to large organisation.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting standards, tax and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience managing audits and liaising with external auditors and regulators.
• Demonstrable leadership experience, with a track record of building and developing high performing teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to deliver high quality outputs to tight deadlines.
• High attention to detail, resilience and adaptability in a changing environment.

Why London Business School

London Business School; a global and vibrant business community based in two of the world’s most dynamic cities, London and Dubai. It’s where extraordinary minds and diverse perspectives connect, to have a profound impact on the way the world does business and the way business impacts the world. We offer best in class hybrid learning to our students and participants, whilst creating a flexible, supportive and dynamic working environment for our people to excel in, whatever their location.

What you can expect from us

• Generous annual leave of 27 days PLUS extra between Christmas and New Year!
• Generous pension package, 14.5% employer contribution (in return for employee enrolment and contribution)
• Free onsite gym and swimming pool
• Amazing range of professional development to support your career path
• Enhanced cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing offering to support your physical, mental and financial health

At London Business School, we support Smart Working - a hybrid approach designed to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance while delivering the best outcomes for your role and the needs of our customers. All roles require a minimum of two days on campus each week to foster a vibrant, collaborative community. For this role specifically, you will be expected to be on campus 2 days per week. We operate with ‘core hours’ – 10:00-15:00 – to maximise opportunities for connection and collaboration across teams during the working day. Outside of these hours, you may still be required for meetings or collaboration based on your role and customer needs. Additionally, we offer Protected Time - a flexible, one-hour slot, within the working week dedicated to your learning and development, wellbeing, or focused, quiet work.

Our commitment to driving inclusion and belonging

We are a globally reaching institution, committed to creating tangible and sustainable change in driving inclusion & belonging within our School, education and society at large. We are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone in our community feels they belong and thrive. This is a key school priority, and we want everyone who joins LBS to feel respected, welcomed, and heard.

Candidates needing sponsorship should assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship by evaluating their circumstances against the relevant criteria before applying.

Please note we start screening CVs and interviewing candidates from the start of a campaign. A successful candidate could progress to offer before the advertised closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in any roles.