Financial Control Manager (12 Month Ftc)

Strong Financial Controls. Smooth financial operations. Delivering at a fast pace.

£57,500-£62,500 (+ Benefits)

Reports to: Financial Reporting & Controls Specialist

Department: Chief Operating Office

Contract: 12 month fixed-term contract

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London. Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: 25 March 2024 23:55

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. If you require more time to apply as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact as soon as possible.

Recruitment process: One competency-based interview

Interview date: Week commencing 01 April 2024

How do I apply? We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly, and objectively.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That's why we're looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you.

We are searching for a qualified Financial Control Manager to play an essential role in safeguarding Cancer Research UK by leading the continuous development and implementation of strong Financial Controls across the organisation while also ensuring the smooth financial operations and performance of the charity.

As the UK's largest charity, we generated £719m income in 2022/23. This means this is an opportunity for you to own the Financial Control framework and add value across a range of complex business areas spanning 600+ shops, c.570 yearly events, a large operational organisation of c.4,000 people, and five research laboratories. You will do this by driving process efficiency, reviewing and improving Financial Controls, contributing to finance change projects (e.g. the implementation of a bespoke Retail transactions reconciliation system), delivering performance management reporting, and monitoring audit progress (March/ April) across the charity.

Furthermore, you will directly line manage a team of 5 direct reports while overseeing and reviewing the balance sheet reconciliation process. This will include being the Product Owner for reconciliation systems and ensuring the timely production of balance sheet reconciliations which are well-controlled, monitored, and reported to Senior Finance Management.

To succeed in this role, you will require both strong technical knowledge and stakeholder management skills as you will be managing and influencing a range of internal and external stakeholder relationships (including Directors, Heads, and Auditors) to deliver and champion strong Financial Controls, resolve issues, and improve operational effectiveness across the organisation.

What will I be doing?

Team management

• Line managing, leading, and developing an inclusive and high-functioning team (5 direct reports).
  • As a line manager, you will be responsible for creating a positive culture that recognises success, develops and drives high performance, and rewards results to retain talent within the team and wider function.
• Setting, monitoring, and tracking the team's objectives and KPIs (key performance indicators), and supporting individuals' under-performing when required.

Internal control framework

• Championing internal controls and fraud awareness across Cancer Research UK while advising process owners on best practices.
• Ensuring sufficient monitoring tools are in place to highlight and eliminate Financial Control weaknesses in collaboration with control owners.
• Contributing to system improvement projects ensuring process changes have strong internal controls and mitigate fraud.
• Coordinating audit control findings from both internal and external audit reports. This will involve reviewing and challenging audit recommendations and drafting management responses.

Reviewing and overseeing balance sheet reconciliations

• Ensuring the production and sign-off of timely balance sheet reconciliations for all accounts ensuring strong controls are in place and items are cleared to agreed service levels.
• Being the product owner for Cancer Research UK reconciliation tools (currently Blackline) while optimizing the tool's functionality.

Monitoring financial operational performance

• Creating and coordinating a centralised Finance KPI dashboard focusing on the operational performance of the Finance team.
• Leading operational review meetings with the Finance Leadership team to identify areas requiring deeper insight, analysis, and performance management.

What skills will I need?

To be considered for this role, you must have the right to work in the UK as we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

• Qualified accountant (ACCA/ ICAEW or equivalent).
• Strong Financial Controls knowledge with experience reviewing and implementing or developing Financial Controls.
• Line managed more than 3 direct reports.
• Managed and built internal and external stakeholder relationships (including Auditors).
• Practical knowledge of FRS 102 reporting standards (Charity SORP would also be advantageous but is not essential).
• Familiar with the balance sheet reconciliation process (this role will be reviewing not preparing reconciliations).

What will I gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that's impressive.

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.

We don't forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.

Our work - from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy - will change the world. It's exciting to be part of our team.

For the full job description and more information about working with us please contact Jamie.Byford-

Additional Information

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at .

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