Financial Controller

Royal Academy Of Arts; England; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Academy of Arts is seeking a Financial Controller to lead its Finance Department, driving financial control, compliance and accounting services. You will oversee Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash Management, Fixed Assets and Payroll, ensuring accurate month-end close and timely statutory reporting.

You will be a qualified accountant with experience in charity accounting (SORP), Gift Aid and VAT, including payroll/pensions knowledge.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant or qualified by experience with hands-on experience managing a transaction processing team.
• Significant experience in financial control, month-end reporting, cash management and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial control framework and ensure robust controls and compliance across accounting services.
• Oversee the Accounting Services team (Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash Management, Fixed Assets, Payroll and Pensions).
• Deliver accurate and timely month-end close, oversee cash management and statutory reporting, and prepare balance sheet reconciliations.

Skills

Financial control

Month-end reporting

Cash management

Compliance

Team leadership

Gift Aid

VAT

Charity SORP

Payroll oversight

Pensions regulations

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACCA/ACA/CIMA)

Tools

Sage Intacct

Job description

The Royal Academy of Arts is currently looking to appoint a Financial Controller to join its Finance Department, providing leadership across financial control, compliance and accounting services, while helping to ensure the effective management of the RA’s financial operations.

The Financial Controller will oversee the RA’s financial control framework, ensuring robust controls and compliance across all accounting services. This role will lead and develop the Accounting Services team, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash Management, Fixed Assets, Payroll and Pensions, and will also be responsible for delivering an accurate and timely month-end close, overseeing cash management and statutory reporting, and ensuring the effective preparation of balance sheet reconciliations.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will be a qualified accountant, or qualified by experience, with hands‑on experience managing a transaction processing team. You will have significant experience in financial control, month‑end reporting, cash management and compliance, alongside a sound understanding of accounting standards, including Charity SORP, and excellent working knowledge of Gift Aid and VAT.

Previous experience managing payroll and pensions, together with a strong understanding of UK payroll and pensions regulations, is essential. You will also have experience of leading and developing teams, with excellent analytical and organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate results to tight deadlines. Experience within the charity or not‑for‑profit sector, and familiarity with Sage Intacct, would be highly valued.