Deputy Financial Controller in Walsall

Location: Walsall, West Midlands

Salary: Competitive + Benefits

Are you an ambitious finance professional looking to step up and build the capability to become a future Financial Controller? South Staffs Water are looking for a Deputy Financial Controller to play a pivotal role in strengthening our financial control environment, driving high-quality reporting, and supporting the smooth running of our month-end and year-end processes. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys problem-solving, and wants to take ownership of key financial control activities while developing their technical and leadership skills.

The Role

As Deputy Financial Controller, you’ll act as the operational lead across month-end close, balance sheet governance, audit delivery, and financial controls. You’ll work closely with the Financial Controller to ensure accuracy, integrity, and timeliness in all aspects of financial reporting. You’ll also play a key role in developing and improving processes, supporting technical accounting matters, and ensuring our control framework remains robust and effective.

Key Responsibilities

• Month-End Close & Reporting: Lead day-to-day month-end activities to ensure close by Working Day 5. Review journals, accruals, and calculations prepared by the team. Prepare draft reporting packs and variance analysis. Act as the escalation point for risks and delays during close.
• Balance Sheet Governance: Oversee timely completion of all balance sheet reconciliations. Review reconciliation quality and supporting evidence. Maintain logs of aged items and balance sheet risks. Escalate high-risk items to the Financial Controller.
• Audit Management: Coordinate internal and external audit activity. Prepare audit schedules, evidence packs, and responses. Support walkthroughs and track progress against audit actions.
• Controls, Policies & Delegation of Authority: Support operation of the Delegation of Authority framework. Perform first-line control checks on spend approvals. Assist with documenting and implementing control improvements.
• Technical Accounting & Policy Support: Research new accounting standards and prepare briefing papers. Support updates to accounting policies and guidance. Escalate judgement-based accounting issues.
• Year-End, ARA & APR: Coordinate year-end close activities. Prepare working papers, disclosures, and supporting schedules. Support statutory reporting and audit queries.
• Capitalisation Processes: Support capitalisation processes and documentation. Review capital additions and project accounting entries. Assist with improving documentation and capitalisation rates.

What You Need

Essential:

• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and understanding of financial controls.
• Experience in month-end close, reconciliations, and audit support.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and confidence engaging stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience in a financial control or audit environment.
• Exposure to capitalisation processes and project accounting.
• Experience in a complex or regulated organisation.
• Ambition to progress into a Financial Controller role.

What You Get in Return:

• A career-defining first move, with responsibility and ownership from day one.
• Hands-on experience across controls, audit, statutory accounts, and technical accounting.
• The opportunity to build the skillset required to become a Financial Controller.
• Exposure to senior stakeholders and real influence over financial governance.
• A culture that values technical excellence, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• A competitive reward package and flexible working option.