Group Financial Controller

NATS; Fareham; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading air navigation service provider in the UK seeks a Group Financial Controller to oversee financial reporting and lead a finance team. The role involves managing monthly reports, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, and supporting strategic decisions. Ideal candidates will be qualified accountants with proficiency in IFRS and exceptional analytical skills. This position offers flexible working arrangements to foster a healthy work-life balance.

Benefits

Agile working arrangements

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Substantial post qualification experience.
• Experience of preparing annual and interim reports for a medium-sized group.
• Ability to explain complex accounting matters clearly.

Responsibilities

• Manage production of monthly CFO Report to the Board.
• Manage the end-to-end process for Annual Reports and Accounts.
• Ensure compliance with financial accounting policies.

Skills

Excellent technical accounting knowledge

Strong analytical skills

Strong organisational skills

Advanced user of Excel

Excellent written communication skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA or equivalent)

Tools

Excel

Financial accounting systems

Job description

Salary - Dependent on experience

Closing date - Tuesday 16th December 2025

NATS is the UK's leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Job Purpose / Overview

The Group Financial Control team at NATS is responsible for ensuring that all NATS companies comply with the financial reporting obligations set out in shareholder and lender agreements, Companies Act legislation and regulatory licence.

The Group Financial Controller (GFC) plays a critical role in setting the agenda for change and supporting delivery of the wider finance vision, which seeks to shape the future of aviation as a trusted business partner focussed on efficiency, collaboration and innovation.

The GFC plays a pivotal role in the wider transformation of finance, facilitating the provision of insight and challenge across the group, including through the provision of monthly financial performance updates to the CFO, Executive and Board. The role is critical to ensuring the Group maintains a strong financial control environment. The role also ensures that annual and interim financial statements are materially accurate and in line with accounting standards and company law.

These deliverables support the wider leadership team in making decisions, the executive and Board to monitor performance and set strategy, as well as external parties to form a view of the financial position of NATS (e.g. shareholders, HMRC, customers, suppliers, lenders, the CAA, rating agencies, etc).

A key requirement is to keep up-to-date with legislative, technical accounting and sustainability developments and to subsequently act as an internal focal point for technical accounting guidance.

The post holder will also provide managerial support to the Manager, Route Charges (and that team) whose accountabilities are to ensure that flight data and billing information for the various charging schemes are produced accurately to the deadlines set, and systems and processes are streamlined and automated.

The role requires a successful team leader who is able to adapt their style to meet the needs of peers, colleagues, team members and customers with key stakeholders including the Board, Audit Committee (AC), Executive Team and External Auditors.

The GFC will deputise for the Director, Group Financial Control as required and on an as required basis attend the Audit Committee for technical and developmental purposes. Experience in writing Board and Audit Committee level technical papers explaining complex issues in a clear, simple and concise manner is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Line manage the Finance Control Reporting and Route Charges teams through coaching, development and engagement and holding performance reviews, providing direction and setting clear objectives to ensure clarity of performance standards required.
• Manage the production of the monthly CFO Report to the Board by setting and controlling the reporting timetable, performing detailed reviews, providing insight to the Director, Group Financial Control, CFO, Executive and Board.
• Ensuring the CFO report, wider financial reporting and financial statements are subject to continuous improvement regarding content and insight. Utilise the latest tools and technology to improve efficiency in their production and insight.
• Ensuring compliance with, and providing technical advice on, group financial and management accounting policies, procedures and reporting. Remain current with upcoming changes legislation changes and assessing the impact on financial reporting. Work collaboratively with business finance teams to understand the detail and ensure the accuracy and recording of financial statements and records.
• Improve existing processes and controls through implementing and maintaining highest quality financial controls impacting the business. Maintain and develop the Group's core accounting policies, manuals and documentation.
• Manage the end to end process for, and preparation of, the Annual Reports and Accounts of the NATS group and its subsidiaries through planning with external auditors, internal parties (including corporate communications, company secretarial, CFO, CEO and wider Executive), completing the financial statements and detailed notes to the accounts.
• Managing the external audit process ensuring timely preparation of comprehensive accounting papers and detailed schedules required for audit purposes.
• Manage the planning and preparation of the half year interim financial statements for the NATS group and its subsidiaries.
• Provide technical accounting support and guidance across the Group, including supporting the preparation of the financial returns required by NERL's licence.
• Support to business planning with reviews of financials plans and to financial modelling with inputs and guidance on technical accounting matters.
• Route Charges : support this function to deliver accurate data, efficiently and on a timely basis.
• Development of a detailed understanding of the Group's Pension position and obligations, with associated accounting requirements. Understand the regulatory mechanisms attached to this and seek to become a subject matter expert in this area.
• Support the Director, Group Financial Control in any ad hoc tasks as required.

Qualifications, Professional Knowledge and Skills

Technical / Professional

• Qualified accountant (ACA or equivalent) with substantial post qualification experience.
• Excellent technical accounting knowledge including requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Experience of preparing both annual and interim reports and accounts for a medium-sized group.
• An excellent written communicator, able to explain complex accounting matters in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to rapidly interpret, concisely explain and act on complex information.
• Strong organisational skills, the ability to prioritise own workload and that of others in a pressurised environment and to tighten deadlines.
• A strong working knowledge of the attributes of a robust control and reporting environment.
• Understanding of current modern accounting systems.
• Advanced user of Excel, with a good working knowledge of both Word and PowerPoint.

Leadership

• High leadership and interpersonal skills to build team culture and behaviours with strong line management experience.
• Ability to coach, develop, motivate and performance manage others.
• High energy, positive attitude with commitment.
• Proven ability to prioritise multiple tasks, set goals and meet deadlines whilst working under pressure.
• Sound decision making skills required together with good organisation and planning skills.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to adapt style and engage others in formal and informal situations with confidence, in order to build effective relationships.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to lead and manage meetings, provide direction and clarity to others in an articulate manner.

Financial Dimensions

This role has 5 direct reports and 7 indirect Reports

Annual / Dept Budget : c£1m

Additional Vacancy Information

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS?

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements. Find out more here .

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe - we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.

Department : Group Financial Control

Location : Whiteley, Hampshire, GB, PO15 7FL

Country / Region : GB

Postal Code : PO15 7FL

Job Code : 1111

Salary Range : Negotiable

Date : 1 Dec 2025