Interim Financial Controller in Oxford

Location: Oxford ( 1 day per week in the office)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Financial Controller to review financial processes, assess the effectiveness of internal controls and identify areas where weaknesses could expose the organisation to financial loss, error, misconduct or fraud.

The role has a strong internal audit and controls focus. You will examine how financial and operational processes work in practice, test whether key controls are operating effectively and investigate areas where gaps, inconsistencies or weaknesses may create unnecessary risk.

Rather than focusing primarily on individual fraud cases, the role is concerned with understanding the processes and control failures that can allow fraud or financial irregularity to occur. You will use audit techniques, data analysis and stakeholder interviews to identify root causes, assess risk and recommend practical improvements.

You will work across a large and complex organisation, reviewing processes that may cut across multiple teams, systems and areas of responsibility. This will require strong judgement, curiosity and the ability to challenge established ways of working constructively.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and carry out reviews of financial and operational processes across the organisation.
• Assess whether internal controls are appropriately designed and operating effectively.
• Identify control weaknesses that could result in financial error, loss, misuse of funds or fraud.
• Investigate processes where concerns, unusual activity or recurring issues have been identified.
• Analyse the root causes behind control failures and determine whether issues are isolated or systemic.
• Review end-to-end processes to identify gaps in ownership, segregation of duties, approvals, reconciliations and oversight.
• Use financial data and management information to identify unusual trends, exceptions or areas requiring further investigation.
• Test compliance with agreed financial procedures and control requirements.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of fraud prevention and detection controls within business processes.

About You

You will have a strong background in internal audit, financial controls, risk or process review, with experience of assessing how financial controls operate within a complex organisation.

You will ideally have:

• A professional accounting or audit qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience in internal audit, financial controls, risk management or process assurance.
• Strong knowledge of internal control principles and audit methodologies.
• Experience reviewing end-to-end financial and operational processes.
• Practical experience identifying control weaknesses and recommending improvements.
• An understanding of how poor process design or ineffective controls can create opportunities for fraud or financial irregularity.
• Experience investigating unusual transactions, control failures or areas of financial concern.