Group Chief Financial Controller

St. James's Place; Cirencester; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

St. James's Place is seeking a Group Chief Financial Controller to lead statutory, regulatory, and management financial reporting. This senior role involves overseeing financial control, ensuring compliance, and driving improvements in reporting processes while partnering with executive leadership. If you are a qualified accountant with leadership experience, this could be your next career step in a supportive, innovative environment.

Benefits

Discretionary bonuses

28 days leave plus bank holidays

Parental leave (26 weeks full pay)

Private medical insurance (optional)

10% non-contributory pension

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with deep knowledge of financial reporting standards (IFRS, UK GAAP).
• Proven leadership skills and effective communication at Board level.
• Strong understanding of audit, compliance, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial reporting teams and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Provide clear reporting to senior executives and manage audit engagements.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial reporting processes.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Reporting

Compliance

Communication

Problem Solving

Risk Management

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA)

Tools

ERP platforms

Job description

Are you ready to chart your own career path? At SJP, we need talented individuals like yourself to support our evolving culture. If you're seeking an employer that is passionate about excellence, innovation, and autonomy, SJP could be the place for you.

At a glance:

Location: Cirencester Office

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Employment Type: Permanent

Seniority: Director

The role:

The Group Chief Financial Controller is responsible for leading the Group's statutory, regulatory, and management financial reporting, ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of disclosures across all entities. As the Group's most senior accounting professional, the role oversees the financial control environment, drives continuous improvement in reporting processes, and ensures strong governance and compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements. Acting as a key partner to the Group CFO, Audit Committee, and Board, this role is central to maintaining confidence in the Group's financial reporting and control framework.

What you'll be doing:

• Leadership & Oversight: Lead and develop the Financial Reporting teams and Financial Controls team, fostering a positive culture of professionalism, control, and continuous improvement; build and maintain effective relationships with other members of the Finance Division Senior Leadership Team, Group and subsidiary Finance SMFs, ExCo, and Board members to ensure effective coordination of all company activities in support of corporate objectives.
• Financial Reporting: Support the Group and legal entity CFOs in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely financial reporting across all relevant entities. Ensure compliance with accepted accounting principles and statutory and regulatory requirements when preparing SJP accounts.
• Controls: Champion a strong controls culture across the financial reporting team and stakeholders to support accurate reports.
• Communication: Provide clear, accurate reporting to the CFO, ExCo, Audit Committee, and Board. Act as a key point of accountability for the quality and transparency of financial reporting.
• Audit & Assurance: Lead engagement with external auditors and the Group Audit Committee. Ensure smooth execution of the year-end audit and effective resolution of audit issues.
• Governance & Risk Management: Lead the Group's approach to risk and control in financial reporting, ensuring proper documentation, ownership, and assurance over financial processes. Act as the primary finance contact for control-related matters, including relationships with SS&C, State Street, and internal audit.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead the development and enhancement of reporting capabilities in response to business needs, regulatory changes, and best practices.
• Third parties: Manage relationships with third-party administrators related to the Reporting Division.
• Legal & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to internal policies, laws, regulations, and ethical standards, including FCA, PRA, and other FS regulatory bodies, as well as compliance with the Senior Managers Regime and Conduct Rules.
• Senior Finance SM&CR (As Required): Responsible for a finance-related SM&CR responsibility, such as CFO or Chief Actuary of a significant regulated group subsidiary.

Who we're looking for:

The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of relevant reporting standards (e.g., IFRS and UK GAAP) and practical experience applying complex accounting standards in a listed or regulated environment. They will understand statutory and regulatory reporting requirements for FS firms, including FCA and PRA returns and disclosures. The candidate will have a strong understanding of internal control frameworks, audit, compliance, and risk management. They will be commercially aware of how financial reporting impacts investor expectations, capital markets, tax regulation, and business strategy. The role requires a qualified accountant with excellent influencing skills, capable of presenting at Board level and leading with integrity.

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified accountant or equivalent (e.g., ACA, ACCA)
• Deep knowledge of financial reporting standards and regulations (e.g., IFRS, UK GAAP)
• Proven leadership skills, including mentoring and developing teams
• Effective communicator at all levels, including Board presentations
• Strong problem-solving skills for complex technical issues
• Ability to navigate regulatory ambiguity and business change
• Strong systems skills, including ERP platforms and regulatory reporting tools

Special Requirements:

Boards and Committees:

Group Audit Committee

What's in it for you?

We reward your work through discretionary bonuses, competitive leave (28 days plus bank holidays, with options to purchase more), and an online rewards platform offering discounts. Our benefits support all life stages, including:

• Parental leave (26 weeks full pay)
• Private medical insurance (optional)
• 10% non-contributory pension (increasing with service)

Reasonable Adjustments: We are an equal opportunities employer. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, contact us at [e-mail].

Research indicates that candidates from underrepresented groups or those with career breaks are encouraged to apply if they have relevant transferable experience, even if they do not meet every criterion.

What's next?

If you're excited about this role and believe you have the skills and experience, please apply by clicking 'apply' below. Our team will contact you.

As a regulated business, familiarize yourself with FCA conduct regulations and consumer duty obligations before your interview with SJP.