Group Chief Financial Officer

BBC UK; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service broadcaster in the UK is seeking a Group Chief Financial Officer to lead financial strategy and contribute to the organization's transformation. The role requires an experienced leader committed to public service broadcasting with a strong background in financial planning and stakeholder management. The ideal candidate should hold relevant financial qualifications and have a proven track record in capital markets.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Proven CFO with experience at Board level.
• Excellent FP&A skills and deeply analytical.
• Experience in raising finance from external sources.

Responsibilities

• Develop the BBC's strategy and future roadmap.
• Lead the financial planning process for capital expenditure.
• Ensure compliance with reporting standards and internal controls.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial planning and analysis

Stakeholder management

Capital markets experience

Public service commitment

Education

ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualification

Job description

Job Requisition ID: 24712

Job Closing Date: Sunday 31 August 2025

HOW TO APPLY

The BBC has engaged an executive search firm, Korn Ferry, to manage the selection process for this role. Please be aware that your application will be managed by Korn Ferry, who will have access to your CV and personal details for the purpose of this vacancy only.

Should you want any further information about the role, or to speak with someone, please contact Olivia Higgins of Korn Ferry, at the following email address: [e-mail]

OVERVIEW & CONTEXT

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a world-renowned public service broadcaster. With a mission to inform, educate, and entertain, the BBC has grown to become one of the most respected and influential media organisations globally. The BBC is dedicated to delivering exceptional content that enriches people's lives and with a commitment to public service, innovation, and diversity, continues to be a trusted source of information and entertainment for millions of people around the world.

The BBC's annual income of £5bn is primarily made up of the licence fee that is paid by UK households, along with other sources of revenue, such as commercial operations through BBC Commercial, a global producer and distributor. BBC Commercial supports the BBC by generating income for the Group. Its operations maximise the global value of intellectual property, brands and storytelling. The BBC operates across the UK and in 60 countries globally.

The BBC is the home for a diverse range of content across multiple platforms, including iPlayer, BBC Sounds, television, radio, online, and mobile. Its television channels, including BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC News, provide an eclectic and all-encompassing range of news, drama, documentaries, and entertainment. At the same time, BBC Radio, with stations like Radio 1, Radio 2, and Radio 4, brings music, talk shows, and cultural programming to audiences.

The BBC is committed to innovation and staying at the forefront of the media industry. It invests in cutting-edge technology and digital transformation to enhance the user experience and reach new audiences.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITY

A compelling opportunity has arisen for a talented strategic and financial leader to join the BBC in the role of Group Chief Financial Officer. This is a unique opportunity for a finance leader to play a major role in the transformation of an iconic public service organisation that holds a special place in UK society and across the World.

Reporting to the Director General, the BBC Group CFO is a role that demands an experienced and world-class strategic and financial leader who has a passion for public service broadcasting and can contribute to the long-term and successful development of the organisation.

The Group CFO will be accountable for the overall financial strategy and performance ensuring value from the licence fee and the optimisation of commercial opportunities. They will act as a critical aid and adviser to the Director General, the Executive Committee and Board, playing a major leadership role in developing and executing the strategy for the BBC going forward.

JOB DESCRIPTION: MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

LOCATION: The role can be based at any of the BBC's UK offices, with a strong presence in London and frequent travel to Cardiff and across the UK.
REPORTING TO: Tim Davie, Director General

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the Director-General, the Chief Strategy Officer and the Executive Committee to help develop the BBC's strategy and future roadmap.
• Support the Board and the Executive Committee to analyse potential strategic opportunities ensuring the financial implications and risks are well understood.
• Serve as a member of the BBC's Executive Committee, leading the BBC in meeting its Charter commitments and mission to inform, educate and entertain.
• Lead and co-ordinate the financial planning process, incorporating financial planning for any capital expenditure. Assess and fully understand the financial requirements of these plans and communicate these clearly to the Board.
• Review the business case for any major investment decisions or partnerships, considering group strategy, effective capital utilization and financial impacts. Play a lead role in key commercial and financial negotiations.
• Play a leading role in the delivery of the 2027 Charter Renewal which will include considerations around the BBC's future scope and funding.
• Represent the organisation to external sources of capital, ensuring the BBC as a financial proposition is well understood. Administer and lead all banking and capital markets relationships and lead any financing processes.
• Understand the organisation's model for generating financial and social value, and translate this into key performance indicators, ensuring these are clearly understood and reported and that leaders are held to account for their delivery.
• Challenge the organisation's plans and ongoing financial performance, spotting trends and interpreting information quickly to provide opportunity for corrective action.
• Identify innovative and creative opportunities to drive efficiencies and improve productivity. Work with the organisation to deliver these.
• Oversee the budget process, collecting the inputs and comparing actual performance against budgeted targets.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of financial reporting and ensure compliance with any relevant reporting standards.
• Maintain appropriate internal financial controls and risk management processes across all Group operations.
• Manage the Group's pension liabilities.

ARE THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?

The BBC is seeking to hire an exceptional individual who will deliver against these comprehensive responsibilities. It is important to understand that this is a position which has a public facing role, and therefore, this person will be committed to public service broadcasting, believing in the BBC's mission and public purpose.

CORE CANDIDATE CRITERIA

• A proven CFO with experience at Board level. Brings a full suite of finance skills covering financial reporting and control, financial planning and analysis, finance business partnering, tax, treasury and capital markets, and M&A / investments.
• Experience developing funding and financial plans. Exposure to capital markets with a track record of successfully raising finance from external sources such as bonds, bank debt, JV partnerships etc.
• Has operated in an environment of commensurate scale and complexity, taking into account the BBC's international reach, multi-business model, and complex stakeholder ecosystem.
• Has been front and centre in a holistic change and transformation programme with experience of cultural, organisational and technological change.
• Excellent FP&A skills and experience. Deeply analytical with a track record of developing long-range financial plans, and experience of complex budget management. Demonstrable track record of providing financial leadership and analysis to ensure effective capital allocation across competing choices, with improvements in ROI.
• A track record of developing the finance organisation to support the future needs of an organisation, delivering improvements in systems, processes, people and culture. Able to leverage technology effectively.
• Financially qualified as demonstrated by an ACA, ACCA, CIMA, MBA or equivalent qualification.
• The BBC welcomes interest from a diverse array of industry backgrounds but experience in a B2C environment would be regarded as especially relevant.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will be:

• Emotionally intelligent.
• Passionate about public service broadcasting and the mission of the BBC.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate effectively to people of all backgrounds.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• An articulate and persuasive communicator; clear consistent and focused in message and action. Must be comfortable with public speaking and able to communicate effectively to different audiences.
• Strategic, innovative and creative; able to develop solutions to complex problems.
• An excellent team builder; ensures the organisation has the right talent required to meet current and future needs by attracting, retaining and developing worldclass talent.
• Robust and resilient; able to cope with the significant personal and professional pressures of being a leader in a major public organisation and being subject to scrutiny from a wide variety of audiences.
• Inclusive and collaborative; a genuine team player.
• High integrity with a commitment to doing the right thing for the organisation; leads with values and engenders trust amongst colleagues and stakeholders. Inspires the organisation to operate with purpose, honesty and fairness.

PACKAGE DESCRIPTION

Band: Executive
Contract Type: Permanent

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

For any general queries, please contact: [e-mail]

Redeployment

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world's best loved content, and the BBC's mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about the BBC

Life at BBC

Here you will benefit from:
• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Candidate pack

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we'd be happy to discuss: [e-mail]