Group Head of Financial Control in London
Group Head of Financial Control

Group Head of Financial Control in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
The Crown Estate

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead financial control and reporting across the Group, ensuring accuracy and integrity.
  • Company: Join a reputable organisation committed to financial governance and transparency.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, private healthcare, and 28 days holiday.
  • Other info: Inclusive workplace with a focus on wellbeing and career development.
  • Why this job: Shape financial strategy and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in Financial Control and deep technical accounting expertise required.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Are you a senior finance leader who cares deeply about integrity, governance and clarity? Do you thrive in complex environments where financial accuracy, judgement and transparency matter at every level? As Group Head of Financial Control, you will shape how financial control, reporting and governance operate across the Group. You will bring clarity to complexity, ensure financial information is decision ready, and help create confidence in the Group’s financial position.

Working closely with executive leadership, the Audit Committee and senior stakeholders, you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the Group’s financial environment while shaping how it evolves through finance transformation and ERP change.

Purpose of the role

The Group Head of Financial Control provides enterprise wide leadership for financial integrity, governance and reporting. The role is accountable for setting direction and ensuring delivery of effective accounting, reporting, tax, treasury and internal control frameworks that support executive decision making, audit outcomes and responsible stewardship of the Group’s financial environment.

Spanning the full finance lifecycle, from transaction processing through to Audit Committee engagement, the role champions simplification, control discipline and data quality, and leads key Financial Control contributions to Finance Transformation and ERP implementation.

What you will do

  • Provide Group wide leadership for Financial Control, covering accounting, financial reporting, technical accounting, tax, treasury, sustainability reporting and internal controls.
  • Be accountable for the integrity, accuracy and completeness of the Group general ledger, profit and loss account and balance sheet.
  • Oversee disciplined close execution supported by KPIs, control evidence and clear ownership.
  • Ensure delivery of accurate, timely and high quality group, statutory and external reporting, including consolidation and disclosures.

Governance, judgement and assurance

  • Act under delegated authority from the Group Finance Director for financial control matters, including approval of accounting positions, key judgements and close outputs.
  • Recommend Group and statutory financial statements for Executive and Audit Committee consideration.
  • Act as policy owner for Group accounting standards, leading judgement on complex or non-routine transactions and ensuring consistent application across all entities and joint ventures.
  • Own the Group internal control framework aligned to enterprise risk, including segregation of duties, testing, remediation and audit readiness.
  • Lead internal, joint venture and Group audits end to end, maintaining senior auditor relationships and driving reliable outcomes.
  • Chair and contribute to financial governance forums, setting expectations for control discipline, early issue escalation and transparency.

Sustainability, tax and treasury oversight

  • Provide senior oversight of sustainability reporting in partnership with specialist teams and non-financial data owners, ensuring disclosures are well governed, aligned with financial reporting and regulatory requirements, and supported by effective controls and data quality.
  • Provide strategic oversight of tax across all taxes, with a particular focus on VAT compliance, risk management and technical guidance.
  • Provide executive oversight of treasury activities, including liquidity, cash management, forecasting and contractual compliance.

Leadership and transformation

  • Lead, inspire and develop a multi-disciplinary team of approximately 20, ensuring capability, engagement and succession.
  • Provide Financial Control leadership into Finance Transformation and ERP programmes, ensuring processes, controls and reporting are embedded by design and transitioned successfully into business as usual.
  • Partner closely with the Group Finance Director, Audit Committee and senior stakeholders, offering insight and challenge on financial integrity, governance and control effectiveness.

What you bring

  • Senior leadership experience in Financial Control, Financial Reporting or Technical Accounting within a complex organisation.
  • Deep technical accounting expertise and confidence applying professional judgement to complex transactions.
  • Experience leading audits and engaging at senior level with external auditors and governance forums.
  • Knowledge of general accounting, balance sheet governance, consolidation and oversight of tax and treasury.
  • Experience contributing to or leading finance transformation and ERP enabled change.
  • Credibility with Executive level Finance leaders and Audit Committee stakeholders.

Capabilities

  • Sets a high bar for financial integrity, rigour and professionalism.
  • Confident decision maker who balances technical detail with enterprise level judgement.
  • Executive presence with the ability to influence, challenge and advise senior stakeholders.
  • Inclusive leader committed to developing senior talent.
  • Governance and risk focused, with a commitment to assurance and transparency.
  • Pragmatic and improvement driven, able to simplify complex environments.

If this role aligns with your experience and career ambitions, we would welcome your application.

Our Offering / benefits:

As well as a competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering, we have a wealth of benefits available ranging from flexible working; market leading family policies and shopping discounts in the West End, to private healthcare; life and critical illness cover and 28 days holiday with the option to buy more. We value work life balance and your wellbeing highly, enabling you to be your best self to work.

Disability Disclaimer: We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity. If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us directly, or at careers@thecrownestate.co.uk.

Please note that if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this advert early. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Group Head of Financial Control in London employer: The Crown Estate

As a leading employer in the financial sector, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture of integrity, transparency, and professional growth. Our Group Head of Financial Control role offers not only competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including flexible working arrangements and market-leading family policies, but also the opportunity to lead a talented team in a dynamic environment that values employee wellbeing and development. Join us in shaping the future of financial governance while enjoying the unique advantages of working in a vibrant location with access to premier shopping and leisure activities.
The Crown Estate

Contact Detail:

The Crown Estate Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Group Head of Financial Control in London

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world and let them know you're on the hunt for a Group Head of Financial Control role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your technical accounting knowledge and governance practices. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled complex financial challenges in the past, as this will show your expertise and confidence in the field.

✨Tip Number 3

Don’t just wait for job postings; be proactive! Research companies that align with your values and reach out directly. Express your interest in their financial leadership roles and share how you can add value to their team.

✨Tip Number 4

Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect with us directly.

We think you need these skills to ace Group Head of Financial Control in London

Financial Control
Financial Reporting
Technical Accounting
Audit Leadership
Governance
Tax Compliance
Treasury Management
ERP Implementation
Stakeholder Engagement
Data Quality Management
Decision Making
Team Leadership
Risk Management
Process Improvement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in financial control and governance. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experience and how it relates to the responsibilities of the Group Head of Financial Control. We appreciate clarity just as much as you do!

Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a senior finance leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Share examples of how you've led teams or projects, especially in complex environments. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and develop others!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!

How to prepare for a job interview at The Crown Estate

✨Know Your Numbers

As a candidate for the Group Head of Financial Control, you need to be on top of your financial game. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've ensured accuracy and integrity in past roles. This will show your deep understanding of financial reporting and governance.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

This role requires leading a multi-disciplinary team, so be prepared to share examples of how you've inspired and developed talent in previous positions. Highlight your inclusive leadership approach and how you've fostered engagement and succession planning within your teams.

✨Prepare for Complex Scenarios

Expect questions that test your judgement on complex transactions and financial control matters. Think of specific instances where you've navigated tricky situations, and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your capability in handling the complexities of the role.

✨Engage with Stakeholders

Since you'll be working closely with executive leadership and the Audit Committee, prepare to discuss how you've effectively communicated and influenced senior stakeholders in the past. Share strategies you've used to ensure transparency and build trust, as this is crucial for the position.

Group Head of Financial Control in London
The Crown Estate
Location: London

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