Financial Controller

Mackie Myers have partnered with a growing specialist Higher Education provider to recruit a Financial Controller into its London-based finance team.

The organisation is entering a significant phase of development, creating an opportunity for an ambitious finance professional to play a key role in shaping the future of the finance function.

This is an opportunity to join a purpose-driven organisation operating within a creative and dynamic environment. Working closely with the Finance Director and senior leadership team, the successful candidate will take ownership of financial control, reporting and process improvement, while supporting wider strategic initiatives across the business.

The Role

The Financial Controller will lead the day-to-day finance function, ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting and effective financial management. This is a broad and highly visible role that combines financial control, business partnering, team leadership and continuous improvement.

The position will suit a hands-on finance leader who enjoys working in a growing organisation, developing people, improving processes and providing meaningful financial insight to support decision-making. You will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact while helping to build a finance function that is scalable, efficient and aligned with the organisation's long-term ambitions.

Main Duties

• Lead the month-end close process, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts, including commentary and analysis.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations, control accounts and cash flow reporting.
• Manage key accounting areas including accruals, prepayments, payroll, deferred income and revenue recognition.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and longer-term financial planning.
• Maintain and strengthen financial controls, policies and procedures.
• Lead the external audit process and support regulatory and governance reporting requirements.
• Line manage and develop a junior member of the finance team.
• Build strong relationships with budget holders and senior stakeholders across the organisation.
• Provide financial analysis and insight to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Drive improvements in finance systems, reporting processes and automation initiatives.
• Support organisational growth projects, business improvement initiatives and long-term planning activities.

The Successful Candidate

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified.
• Previous Financial Controller experience or experience operating at a comparable level.
• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting expertise.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to turn complex data into meaningful financial insight.
• Experience improving financial controls, reporting processes and finance operations.
• Strong stakeholder management and business partnering capabilities.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior finance staff.
• Proactive, hands-on and comfortable operating within a lean and growing organisation.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience within Higher Education, training, professional services, creative industries or another regulated environment.
• Exposure to high-growth, entrepreneurial or private equity-backed organisations.
• Experience implementing finance systems, reporting tools or process automation initiatives.
• Exposure to strategic growth, transformation or organisational development projects.

What's on Offer?

• £80,000 - £85,000 salary per annum
• Significant scope to influence and enhance the finance function.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion We believe that diverse teams drive innovation and success. That's why we're committed to promoting equality of opportunity and creating inclusive workplaces where everyone feels valued and supported. We actively seek out talent from all backgrounds and strive to reflect the rich diversity of the workforce in every role we recruit for.

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