Group Financial Controller

  • Robert Walters
  • St. Albans, Hertfordshire
  • Mar 11, 2026
Full time Banking

Job Description

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, you will be empowered to lead day-to-day financial operations, drive strategic projects, and support the integration of new business units across the UK, Europe etc. The company is renowned for its people-first approach, valuing meaningful relationships, deep expertise, and practical know-how.

What you'll do:

As Group Financial Controller you will play a central role in guiding the organisation's financial direction during an era of expansion. Your days will be filled with varied responsibilities ranging from overseeing complex group consolidations to driving process improvements using automation tools. You will be instrumental in ensuring accurate management reporting that informs strategic decisions at board level while also nurturing talent within your team through ongoing development initiatives. Your ability to collaborate across departments will help solve problems efficiently while maintaining compliance with international standards. By balancing hands-on operational detail with broader strategic input-especially around mergers & acquisitions-you will help shape a resilient finance function ready for future growth.

  • Take ownership of all aspects of group finance including management reporting, tax compliance, treasury management (covering foreign exchange, cashflow forecasting, liquidity planning, working capital optimisation), and facility reporting.
  • Oversee daily finance operations ensuring consistency across processes while maintaining robust controls and scalability as the business grows.
  • Deliver high-quality financial reporting and insights to the CFO and leadership team by producing timely monthly management accounts with comprehensive analysis against budget and prior year results.
  • Refresh and develop financial reporting frameworks to ensure they remain insightful, relevant, and fit for purpose as the organisation evolves.
  • Supervise payroll approval processes, coordinate tax matters efficiently, and ensure statutory compliance to minimise risk exposure for the group.
  • Lead audit activities as well as risk management initiatives; ensure smooth completion of statutory accounts for both group and subsidiaries alongside audits and tax computations.
  • Develop strong internal control frameworks that support rapid future growth while documenting best practices for governance.
  • Drive improvements in financial reporting systems by implementing automation tools and standardising processes across UK, Europe etc.
  • Support direct reports (Financial Reporting & Tax Manager, Finance Manager, Treasury Manager) through mentoring and training while fostering technical knowledge within the wider finance team.
  • Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and external advisors to resolve challenges effectively while managing insurance requirements for the company.

What you bring:

Your background as a Group Financial Controller equips you with deep technical expertise in accounting standards such as FRS102 and IFRS along with hands-on experience managing complex consolidations across international entities. You bring proven success in developing robust internal controls that underpin scalable growth while leveraging ERP systems like NetSuite to streamline processes. Your collaborative nature ensures you work seamlessly within teams-mentoring others while building consensus among stakeholders. You are adept at navigating periods of change thanks to your commercial awareness and ability to adapt quickly when priorities shift. Above all else, your enthusiasm for sharing knowledge makes you an invaluable resource who supports both individual colleagues' development journeys as well as broader organisational goals.

  • ACA or ACCA qualified accountant with substantial experience in financial and statutory reporting within fast-growing businesses operating internationally.
  • Proven track record of consolidating accounts for multiple international entities while delivering high-quality output under tight deadlines.
  • Experience improving financial reporting processes through system enhancements such as ERP implementations.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor high-performing teams by providing training opportunities that foster technical growth within finance functions.
  • Comfortable operating in environments characterised by rapid change where stakeholder engagement is critical to success.
  • Commercially astute with hands-on experience balancing strategic oversight with operational detail across diverse business units.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills enabling effective collaboration with colleagues at all levels as well as external advisors.
  • Ability to flex communication style appropriately-whether offering support or constructive challenge-to achieve optimal outcomes for the business.
  • Proactive approach to prioritising competing demands under time pressure while remaining adaptable to shifting organisational needs.
  • Experience managing insurance requirements alongside ad-hoc financial projects including value creation initiatives and post-acquisition optimisation.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates