13546 - Group Financial Controller

University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious UK university in Edinburgh seeks a Group Financial Controller to oversee financial integrity and reporting. The role demands a fully qualified CCAB accountant with extensive experience managing financial operations, compliance, and audits within complex organisational structures. A focus on strategic decision-making and team leadership is essential. Interested candidates should submit a CV and covering letter for review.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of preparing annual financial statements and leading statutory reporting cycles.
• Deep understanding of internal financial controls and risk management practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial accounting and external reporting for the University.
• Ensure full statutory compliance and maintain strong audit relationships.

Skills

Fully Qualified CCAB accountant

Experience with large ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Workday)

Strong analytical and technical accounting skills

Stakeholder management and influencing skills

Education

Qualified accountant with training or certification in risk management or audit

Tools

Oracle

SAP

Workday

Job description

Grade UE10: £81,016 - £95,193

Corporate Services Group/Finance Department

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: 18 months

We are looking for a strategically focused qualified accountant with excellent people management experience. It’s important that you are team oriented, with a drive to deliver ongoing change and improvements.

The Opportunity:

The Group Financial Controller is responsible for the leadership, integrity and effectiveness of the University’s financial accounting, external reporting, and control environment across the group. The postholder reports to the Chief Financial Officer and is part of the senior leadership team within the portfolio.

The role ensures full statutory compliance, high-quality financial reporting, robust internal controls, and consistent application of financial policies and regulations across all parts of the University, including subsidiaries.

The postholder will provide authoritative technical accounting advice, maintain strong audit relationships, and support the University’s strategic and operational decision-making by ensuring the reliability and timeliness of financial information.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• Fully Qualified CCAB accountant with experience commensurate with the seniority of the role. Desirable to have training or certification in risk management, internal controls frameworks or audit.
• Experience with large ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Workday) and financial reporting tools.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in financial reporting, audit or financial controls.
• Strong knowledge and experience of financial accounting principles, consolidation, and group reporting.
• Proven experience of preparing annual financial statements and leading statutory reporting cycles.
• Deep understanding of internal financial controls, risk management practices, and assurance frameworks.
• Familiarity with tax compliance obligations relevant to large organisations.
• Knowledge of audit processes (internal and external) and audit standards, and experience of managing internal and external audits.
• Understanding of financial regulations, policy frameworks, and delegated authorities, and experience of implementing them.
• Ability to design and implement robust financial processes and controls.
• Process improvement and change management capability.
• Highly developed analytical and technical accounting skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly to non-finance professionals.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including working with senior leaders within and outside UoE.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, support and develop high performing teams.
• Sound judgement and decision making, particularly in complex or ambiguous situations.
• Ability to balance technical rigour with pragmatic decision-making.
• Collaborative and approachable, with a commitment to develop positive working relationships.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, evolving financial environment with wide-ranging responsibilities.

Please submit a CV and covering letter for consideration.