Financial Controller

South Devon College; Paignton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in the UK is seeking a Financial Controller responsible for managing the Finance & Payroll team and supporting the Senior Director of Finance. The ideal candidate will have a degree and a Professional Accounting Qualification with significant experience in multidisciplinary finance leadership. This role emphasizes transparency, financial integrity, and alignment with educational objectives, offering a competitive salary and extensive benefits including 35 days annual leave and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

35 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme with 18% employer contributions

Hybrid and flexible working patterns

Access to training, apprenticeships

Discounted travel schemes

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification.
• Hold a Professional Accounting Qualification.
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership of the Finance & Payroll Team.
• Support the Senior Director of Finance in delivering financial strategy.
• Ensure accurate forecasting and reporting for budget holders.

Skills

Leading multidisciplinary finance teams

Budgeting and financial reporting

Commitment to integrity and transparency

Education

Degree level or equivalent qualification

Professional Accounting Qualification

Job description

Financial Controller

SH2967

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

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

Location: Paignton, Devon

South Devon College has a new and exciting opportunity to join the Finance & Payroll teamasFinancial 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.

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.

At South Devon College we are passionate that excellent teaching and learning can transform lives. We seek to achieve at the highest levels and welcome staff who share our drive for success.

In return, you can expect access to an exciting range of training, apprenticeship and opportunities for degree level study alongside your work to keep you at the top of your game, as well as generous holiday allowance of 35 days (pro rata) and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

The staff at South Devon College are truly inspirational and this is a reflection on the whole College culture of continuous improvement and support for all of our students and communities. We hold the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) Platinum accreditation, the highest level awarded by the people management standard. This prominent distinction confirms the College’s status as not just a leading Further Education College, but also as a top employer in the country, as it joins the top 7% of accredited organisations across the UK.

We aim to provide our learners with excellent teaching and learning. Our staff are highly adept at working with and developing skills and knowledge in learners from different backgrounds. Our staff have consistently high expectations of all students and generate high levels of enthusiasm for participation in, and commitment to learning.

Our staff are integral to maintaining our passion and high-performance levels, and we reward our staff for this. Our benefits are designed to encourage a healthy work-life balance, and include:

• 35 days annual leave
• 1 additional day’s holiday for your birthday (does not have to be used on your birthday);
• 1 additional day’s 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.

Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 18th January 2026.

Interview Date: Friday 23rd January 2026.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.