Financial Controller

National Physical Laboratory; Coventry; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent measurement standards organization in Coventry is seeking a Financial Controller to lead financial governance and operations. This role involves overseeing management accounting, financial operations, and compliance while leading and motivating a large team. The ideal candidate will be a fully qualified accountant with extensive experience in financial management, strong technical skills, and the ability to foster collaborative relationships across the organization. Candidates must be prepared to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Qualifications

• Fully Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant PQE.
• Previous experience as a Financial Controller.
• Strong technical accounting skills.
• Experience managing and developing large teams.
• Familiarity with process improvement and controls.
• Collaborative working style.
• Experience with ERP systems implementation.
• Experience in a complex, project-based organization is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team for high performance.
• Oversee financial governance and risk management.
• Manage accurate financial reporting.
• Develop and manage financial policies.
• Manage the audit process.
• Ensure compliance with operational standards.
• Build strategic relationships across the organization.
• Work closely with senior colleagues for actionable insights.

Skills

Financial expertise

Technical accounting skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership and team development

Process improvement

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

At NPL, we set the standards by which the world is measured. Our work underpins solutions to global challenges — from tackling climate change and advancing medical breakthroughs to enabling next-generation communications technology.

Our Finance team plays a critical role in shaping NPL’s success. By partnering across the organisation, we create a clear strategy and vision, monitor performance, and provide insights that drive informed decisions and sustainable growth.

As our Financial Controller, you’ll be a senior leader within Finance, overseeing Management Accounting, Financial Operations (AP/AR), Financial Accounting, and Tax & Compliance. You’ll ensure robust financial governance, accurate reporting, and strong controls that support NPL’s mission and long-term objectives.

What you’ll be Doing

• Inspiring Leadership: Lead and motivate a large team to ensuring clarity, engagement, and high performance.
• Driving Financial Excellence: Oversee strong financial governance and risk management, optimise ERP systems, and embed efficient processes.
• Accurate management and financial reporting of business performance
• Financial Policies: Develop new and manage existing financial policies
• Managing the audit process
• Ensuring Operational Standards: Maintain compliance with quality, health, safety, and environmental requirements while promoting continuous improvement.
• Building Strategic Relationships: Act as a trusted ambassador for NPL, strengthening partnerships and ensuring transparent, accurate financial reporting.
• Collaborating Across Leadership: Work closely with senior colleagues to create a unified organisation and provide actionable financial insights.

Key Qualifications

• Bring their financial expertise as a fully Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant PQE experience
• Previous experience as a Financial Controller
• Demonstrate strong technical accounting skills
• Managed, coached and developing large teams
• Continuously looking to improve processes, controls and efficiencies
• Collaborative and team-oriented working style
• Bring their experience of embedding and exploiting the introduction of new ERP systems
• Bring their experience of working in a complex, project-based organisation would be desirable but not essential
• Strong interpersonal skills

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert, therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.