Job Description:

Financial Controller

Southampton | Hybrid Working

A highly respected and well-established organisation is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to join its senior finance leadership team.

This is a pivotal leadership position for a qualified finance professional who combines strong financial control and reporting expertise with outstanding people management skills. Leading a sizeable finance function, you will be responsible for developing managers, inspiring teams, and driving a high-performance culture across both direct and indirect reporting lines.

Reporting to the Finance Director, you will provide strategic leadership across financial operations, reporting, governance and controls, while championing continuous improvement and supporting the long-term development of the wider finance team.

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact within a complex and evolving organisation where people leadership is considered equally as important as technical expertise.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead, develop and inspire a multi-layered finance function through both direct and indirect reporting lines.
• Manage and coach finance managers, empowering them to lead and develop their own teams effectively.
• Build a high-performing, collaborative culture focused on accountability, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Drive succession planning, talent development and leadership capability across the wider finance function.
• Lead organisational change initiatives and ensure teams remain engaged through periods of growth and transformation.
• Act as a visible and approachable leader who can influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.

Financial Control

• Maintain a robust financial control framework, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee accounting policies, procedures and governance activities.
• Ensure strong risk management and financial integrity across the organisation.
• Drive best practice controls and continuous improvement initiatives.

Financial Operations

• Lead month-end and year-end close processes.
• Oversee statutory reporting, annual audits and compliance requirements.
• Ensure the delivery of accurate, timely and insightful financial information.
• Act as the primary contact for external auditors and key financial advisers.

Finance Transformation 

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, reporting and controls.
• Support the development of finance systems, processes and data governance.
• Leverage technology to enhance financial insight and operational effectiveness.
• Contribute to wider transformation and change programmes across the business.

Business Partnering

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across the organisation.
• Provide financial guidance and challenge to support decision-making.
• Translate financial information into meaningful commercial insights.
• Support strategic planning and organisational objectives.

About You

You will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with a proven track record of operating in a senior finance leadership role within a complex organisation.

To be successful, you will demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading sizeable finance functions through managers and indirect reporting structures.
• A strong track record of developing high-performing teams and future finance leaders.
• Proven success in coaching, mentoring and empowering managers.
• Strong financial control, reporting and governance experience.
• Experience managing audits, statutory reporting and compliance activities.
• A collaborative leadership style with exceptional stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading change, improving processes and driving operational excellence.
• The ability to balance strategic leadership with operational delivery.

While technical accounting expertise is important, this role requires a leader who is passionate about developing people, creating capability within teams and building an engaged, high-performing finance function.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Hybrid working.
• Enhanced pension contribution.
• Performance-related bonus.
• Private healthcare and additional wellbeing benefits.
• Excellent professional development opportunities.
• A highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to shape the future direction of the finance function.
• Long-term career progression within a successful and growing organisation.

This opportunity would suit an experienced Financial Controller or Head of Finance who is motivated by leading people, developing managers and driving excellence across a large finance team.

For further information, please contact us for a confidential discussion.

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