Financial Controller

MicroTech Consulting; Paignton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution in Paignton is seeking a Financial Controller to lead the Finance & Payroll team. The role involves managing budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting, as well as supporting budget holders in sustainable educational delivery. A degree, Professional Accounting Qualification, and experience in leading finance teams are essential. This position offers a salary range of £50,666 to £56,545 plus excellent benefits including 35 days annual leave and hybrid working options.

Benefits

35 days annual leave

Employer pension contribution of 18%

Hybrid and flexible working patterns

Subsidised fitness suite

On Site Nursery

Discounted travel schemes

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification.
• Professional Accounting Qualification required.
• Experience in leading finance teams in a comparable organization essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Finance & Payroll Team and support budgeting and forecasting.
• Provide financial support to budget holders for sustainable delivery.
• Contribute to strategic planning aligning financial goals with education.

Skills

Leadership of multidisciplinary finance teams

Experience in financial reporting

Customer service excellence

Education

Degree level/equivalent qualification

Professional Accounting Qualification

Job description

Financial Controller

Job reference: REQ002967.

Date posted: 30/11/2025.

Application closing date: 18/01/2026.

Location: Paignton, Devon.

Salary: £50,666 to £56,545 per annum, plus excellent benefits.

Contract type: 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Permanent.

Job category/type: Management.

Role Overview

South Devon College has a new and exciting opportunity to join the Finance & Payroll team as Financial Controller. If you have high professional standards with commitment to an outstanding ethos including personal integrity, transparency, honesty and commitment to fairness and equality, then this role could be for you! Working closely with and reporting directly to the Senior Director of Finance, and deputising in their absence, this role provides day-to-day leadership of the Finance & Payroll Team for the College (Monthly budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting including Management Accounts, Year End, Financial internal and external Audits, Sales & Purchase Ledgers, Payroll, financial controls etc), setting high standards of customer service and supporting the Senior Director of Finance in delivering the College’s financial strategy whilst delivering an accurate and timely forecasting and reporting. Your role will be to provide excellent financial support to budget holders, ensuring financially sustainable and viable delivery of education and training supporting highest quality teaching and learning. The role will also contribute to the strategic planning of the college, aligning financial goals with educational objectives.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level/equivalent qualification or possess equivalent relevant experience. You will hold a Professional Accounting Qualification and have experience of leading multidisciplinary finance teams, including payroll and transactional processing, in an organisation of comparable scale.

Benefits

• 35 days annual leave
• 1 additional day holiday for your birthday (does not have to be used on your birthday)
• 1 additional day holiday for every 5 years served
• Christmas Closure of up to 2 weeks in addition to annual leave entitlement
• Access to a wealth of training, apprenticeships and funded higher education opportunities as well as dedicated training days
• Local Government Pension Scheme Employer pension contributions of 18%
• Hybrid and flexible working patterns
• Subsidised fitness suite facility, onsite hair and beauty salon, access to a wide range of catering facilities, outdoor gym and free eyesight tests
• Major supermarket and high street employee discount schemes
• Life Assurance (if member of pension scheme)
• On Site Nursery (Mama Bears)
• Employee Assistance Programmes
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Discounted travel schemes

Application Information

To apply and for a full job description please visit the Jobs page of the South Devon College website www.southdevon.ac.uk/jobs.

Interview date: Friday 23rd January 2026.

Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 18th January 2026.

Please note that you will be required to be in possession of an Enhanced DBS Certificate or be willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS check as a condition of employment at the College.

Safeguarding & Equality

This College is committed to Safeguarding/Prevent and promoting the welfare of students, including children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The College is committed to applying its Single Equality Scheme at all stages of recruitment and selection. Shortlisting, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, transgender status, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion/belief, age, pregnancy or maternity leave, or union membership. Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate the particular needs of any candidate who has notified us of a disability. This may include changing the timing or location of any interview to enable the candidate to attend, providing information in different formats or larger type, etc. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare any cautions, convictions, reprimands and final warnings that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020).