Financial Controller

In their search for a new Financial Controller on a permanent basis the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) are partnering with Robertson Bell to recruit to this key position. The Serious Fraud Office is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom that investigates and prosecutes serious or complex fraud and corruption in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Finance team provides support to all operational and non-operational teams across the SFO in managing their budgets, forecasts and accruals, and ensuring that that they have the right financial and management information and support to enable them to manage their resources effectively. The Financial Controller provides leadership to the Financial control function ensuring that suppliers, staff and witnesses are paid promptly and correctly while identifying improvements to processes and services where these will add value.

The role:

• Provide leadership and direction to staff within the financial control team ensuring that suppliers, staff and witnesses are paid promptly and correctly.
• To identify and deliver improvements in the work of the financial control team.
• Lead on the preparation of the annual accounts ensuring these are produced in line with the agreed timetable and to the required standard. In addition to act as the main contact during the subsequent audit by the NAO.
• Lead on the compilation of monthly returns in compliance with existing Cabinet Office requirements on spending controls and transparency returns.
• Ensure that all key account reconciliations are up to date and maintained in a timely manner.
• Ensure that the SFO fully complies with its VAT requirements and manage the SFO’s cash requirements including forecasting of future spending.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with the Head of Business Partnering, and assist other team members by sharing specialist knowledge and experience.
• Contribute to office-wide initiatives such as inputting into policy development and other work that supports the continuous development of the SFO.

The successful candidate will:

• Be a qualified Accountant (CCAB) with demonstrable experience of delivering annual accounts preferably in a central government context.
• Have a finance background with demonstrable evidence of having delivered improvements in financial management.
• Have strong people management skills with a demonstrable ability to motivate and manage a team to deliver.
• Hold Exceptional communication and customer service / stakeholder engagement skills.

This position will officially be based at the head office in Trafalgar Square however please note SFO’s offices are due to relocate to Canary Wharf in the next 12-18 months. The successful Financial Controller will be required to be in the office a minimum of two days per week.

Applications will be under constant review before the closing date, so please apply via the link or contact Katie Moore at our retained search agent, Robertson Bell. Please note the closing date for applications is Sunday 24th November 2024 with interviews happening the week commencing 2nd December.