Financial Controller in Haywards Heath

We’re recruiting a Financial Controller to lead Sightsavers’ global financial management and help shape a strong, modern and service-focused finance function.

Location: Remote/ Hybrid - Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK.

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Right to work: Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK, as Sightsavers is unable to provide employer sponsorship for this role. This role must be worked from the UK and occasional attendance in the office will be required.

This is a senior role reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for leading the Global Finance Team across business finance, subsidiaries finance, treasury, and finance systems and projects.

We’re looking for a professionally qualified accountant with strong financial control, statutory accounting, audit, systems and transformation experience. Just as importantly, we need someone with excellent people skills who can lead experienced teams, build trust, support change, challenge constructively and make sound decisions in a values-led way.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the Global Finance Team, creating a collaborative, accountable and high-performing culture.
• Overseeing financial control, treasury, payroll, tax, accounting, reconciliation and compliance processes.
• Managing the preparation of statutory accounts and the external audit process in line with charity reporting requirements.
• Strengthening finance systems, processes, reporting and controls to support an efficient and scalable global finance function.
• Providing trusted advice, insight and challenge to senior leaders, committees and colleagues across the organisation.
• Driving transformation, continuous improvement and better ways of working across finance operations.

About you

The role will suit someone who enjoys working across a complex international organisation, influencing senior stakeholders and helping finance teams provide clear, practical and high-quality support to colleagues globally.

You will be a professionally qualified accountant (ideally ICAEW or equivalent) with senior financial management experience, including experience of statutory accounts, audit, internal controls, finance systems and leading customer-facing finance teams. You will bring strong communication and influencing skills, the ability to explain complex financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues, and the confidence to challenge constructively at senior level.

Experience of working in a complex international environment would be highly valuable, as would experience in the charity, INGO or donor-funded sector. Most importantly, you will bring a strong commitment to inclusive leadership, continuous improvement and Sightsavers’ mission to protect sight and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

Qualifications

Professional accountancy qualification (ideally ICAEW or equivalent) with senior financial management experience, including statutory accounts, audit, internal controls, finance systems and leading customer-facing finance teams.

Note

The description above reflects the core responsibilities and requirements for the role. It is not an exhaustive list of duties and may be subject to change in line with the needs of Sightsavers.