Financial Accounting Manager

Financial Ombudsman Services; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Gym membership

Pension

Private medical insurance

Family friendly policies

Cycle to work

Job summary

Financial Ombudsman Service in London Docklands is seeking a Lead Financial Accountant to head the financial accounting function, ensuring robust controls and compliance. You will oversee month-end close, statutory accounts and liaise with auditors, guiding analytics, automation and governance across the organisation.

The role requires ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent, strong IFRS/IAS19 knowledge and experience with Workday Financials, with a hybrid working pattern and a circa £80,000 salary.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with post-qualification experience in financial accounting, statutory reporting and financial control.
• Strong IFRS and IAS19 knowledge with ability to interpret new standards and disclosures.
• Experience leading month-end close, controls, reconciliations, tax compliance and asset management.
• Proficiency with Workday Financials and data-driven process improvement, including automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial accounting function with robust controls and accurate reporting.
• Oversee month-end close, cashflow, investments and statutory accounts; liaise with internal/external auditors.
• Provide expert accounting guidance across the organisation and drive process improvements with governance.

Skills

Financial accounting

IFRS & IAS19

Month-end close

Workday Financials

Excel

Automation & AI awareness

Communication

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

Workday Financials

Excel

Job description

Contract:

Permanent

Working hours: 35 hours per week is full time. Where possible, we are open to considering part time/flexible working patterns. Please let us know in your application your desired working pattern.

Salary: circa £80,000 per annum

Location: London Docklands, Hybrid

Reporting to: Financial Controller

Join a team where Purpose drives everything we do, Ambition fuels our growth, Trust builds our foundation, and Respect shapes our culture.

We're not just hiring - we're inviting you to build the future with us. If you're curious, driven, and ready to leave your mark, this is your invitation to make your next move.

By joining our team, you'll enjoy the best of both worlds - hybrid working and the collaboration of a great office environment. As well as extensive opportunities for personal and career development.

About Us:

The Financial Ombudsman Service is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that plays a vital role in UK financial services. Every day we help resolve disputes between consumers, or small businesses, and their financial service providers.

What You'll Do:

This role will lead the financial accounting function, ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting and compliance with accounting standards, tax requirements and statutory obligations. You will oversee the month-end close process, manage cashflow and investments, prepare statutory accounts, and work closely with internal and external auditors to deliver high-quality financial reporting and assurance.

As the technical accounting expert, you will provide clear advice across the organisation, lead improvements to financial controls, and act as a key stakeholder for Workday Financials. You will identify opportunities to enhance processes through automation, analytics and AI, while maintaining strong governance and auditability.

Leading a small team, you will develop capability, drive continuous improvement and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and curiosity. You will also deputise for the Financial Controller when required and represent Finance in cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives across the Service.

Minimum Criteria:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience in financial accounting, statutory reporting and financial control.
• Strong technical accounting expertise, including IFRS and IAS19, with the ability to interpret and implement new accounting standards and disclosure requirements.
• Proven experience preparing statutory accounts, managing accounting judgements, and working effectively with internal and external auditors.
• Demonstrable experience leading month-end close processes and overseeing key financial controls, including reconciliations, cashflow, investments, tax compliance and fixed assets.
• Strong systems and digital capability, including experience with financial systems (ideally Workday Financials), Excel, automation and data-driven process improvement, with a balanced approach to the use of AI and technology.

What you'll bring?

• Excellent planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage deadlines and deliver improvements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risks and implement effective controls.
• Strong communication skills, able to explain complex financial matters clearly to a range of audiences.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing a small team, while promoting knowledge sharing and resilience.
• A continuous improvement mindset, focused on improving processes while maintaining compliance and control.

Why You'll Love Working With Us:

• Wellbeing: [Health plan, gym memberships, mental health support]
• Growth: We invest in your future with [courses, mentorship, promotions]
• Culture: Diverse. Inclusive. Collaborative. Fun.

We also offer an attractive, competitive salary and flexible benefits to suit our people. Here’s a list of some of the many benefits and perks you can get for working with us:

• 25 days holiday entitlement, with the option to buy extra or sell days
• Generous pension
• Various Family Friendly Policies, including enhanced maternity pay, carers and dependants leave
• Employer provided benefits such as Private medical insurance, virtual GP, Critical illness cover, Life assurance cover, to name a few
• Choice of voluntary benefits including Technology scheme, Cycle to work scheme, Will-writing service amongst others
• Gym membership discounts, and a fully equipped on-site gym open 24/7 in London only

The Financial Ombudsman is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team We view diversity as fundamental to our success and welcome applications from underrepresented groups across all communities.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and, under the scheme, will progress a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role to interview. Interviews may be conducted via video, telephone, or a panel Interview, with some vacancies requiring an online assessment to measure the minimum criteria.

Authenticity of applications

We value authentic personal applications. If we determine that your CV or supporting statement was generated using AI tools, your application may be withdrawn from consideration.