Financial Controller

IFES; Oxford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working options

10% employer pension contribution

Life insurance

Generous annual leave allowance

Job summary

IFES in Oxford is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to lead our finance team and ensure robust control across financial operations. The role requires qualified accounting expertise, charity finance knowledge, and the ability to drive accurate reporting and governance.

You will oversee transactional processes, budgeting, and financial reporting, and you will lead audits while supporting strategic decision-making in a global Christian ministry context.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant with knowledge of charity finance and reporting requirements.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and governance in a non-profit setting.
• Experience leading financial teams and coordinating audits and external reporting.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across financial operations and maintain robust control environment.
• Oversee transactional finance processes, manage budgets, produce financial reports, and lead audits.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure accurate, timely financial information and strategic decision support.

Skills

Qualified accountant

Leadership

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Audits

People management

Internal controls

Communication

Education

Qualified accountant (ACCA/ACA/CIMA) or equivalent experience

Job description

Financial Controller

Do you want to use your expertise in Finance to serve God and see people thrive Are you passionate about students around the world encountering Jesus

Then, join the team and use your Finance skills to build strong teams that provide fruitful ministry around the world.

Role: Financial Controller

Salary: Band E (GBP39,827-GBP45,358)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time

Location: Oxford, Hybrid (60% office based)

• Flexible and hybrid working options
• 10% employer pension contribution
• life insurance
• generous annual leave allowance

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5.00pm, Friday 11 September

INTERVIEW DATES

• 1st Round Interviews: Online interviews will be held during the week of 21–25 September 2026.
• 2nd Round Interviews: In–person interviews will be held in Oxford during the week of 28 September–2 October 2026.

Join a movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. Locally. Nationally. Globally.

The ministry is supported behind the scenes by International Services based in Asia, the UK, and the USA.

The organisation supports and connects students living out the gospel as witnesses in the university in more than 180 countries worldwide. At the heart of everything is the desire to see students thriving as communities of disciples, transformed by the gospel and impacting the university, the church, and society for the glory of Christ.

ABOUT THE ROLE

To assist in this work, we are looking for an experienced and qualified finance professional who can provide strong leadership across our financial operations while maintaining a robust control environment.

As a key member of the Finance team, you will:

• Combine technical accounting expertise with excellent people management skills, ensuring accurate, and efficient financial processes that support effective decision–making across the organisation.
• Be a fully qualified accountant (or have equivalent experience) with a strong understanding of charity finance, financial reporting requirements, and internal controls.
• Be comfortable working with financial systems and data, you'll have experience overseeing transactional finance processes, managing budgets, producing financial reports, and leading audits.

As a global Christian ministry, we particularly value candidates who thrive in multicultural environments, demonstrate humility and integrity in their work, and are motivated to use their professional skills in service of our mission and values.

ABOUT YOU

The successful candidate will be:

• A qualified accountant (or have equivalent experience)
• Proactive, organised, and solutions–focused, with the ability to identify improvements and implement change. an effective communicator who can build strong relationships across a diverse international organisation, explaining financial matters clearly to both finance and non–finance colleagues.
• Experienced at managing and developing staff
• Able to balance attention to detail with a strategic understanding of the bigger picture.

We re searching for someone with a positive experience of working in a team, as well as the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.

The primary calling is to pioneer and nurture a nationally led student witness in every country of the world. The work of International Services is to support this frontline ministry. Join an organisation with a distinctive Christian ethos.

This post is subject to an Occupational Requirement under provisions made in the Equality Act 2010. Applicants should therefore demonstrate a firm Christian commitment and agree with the IFES doctrinal basis and ethos statement.

This job will not qualify for a Certificate of Sponsorship, so you will have to prove you have the right work in the UK before we would consider your application.