Financial Controller

NPL Careers; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in the UK is seeking a Financial Controller to oversee management accounting, financial operations, and reporting. This role involves inspiring leadership, managing audits, and driving financial excellence within a dynamic finance team. The ideal candidate will be a fully qualified accountant with experience in a project-based organization and strong interpersonal skills. This position offers opportunities for contributions to crucial organizational goals and requires BPSS security clearance.

Benefits

Flexible working

Broad range of rewards and benefits

Positive work-life balance

Qualifications

• Significant PQE experience in finance.
• Experience as a Financial Controller.
• Experience with new ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a large finance team.
• Oversee financial governance and risk management.
• Manage the audit process and develop financial policies.

Skills

Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

Financial governance and risk management

Technical accounting skills

Leadership and team management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Fully qualified accountant

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

About the Role

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.

About You

You'll bring a blend of technical expertise, leadership, and strategic thinking.

We're looking for someone who can:

• 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
• Experience of embedding and exploiting the introduction of new ERP systems
• 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.

About Us

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world‑leading centre of excellence that provides cutting‑edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here – The Measure of Us – Overview.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we're creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well‑being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work‑life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.