Group Financial Controller

Cornerstone; Horley; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Annual bonus

Enhanced maternity & family leave

Life assurance

HolidayPlus

Virtual GP

Employee discounts

Job summary

SGN seeks a Group Financial Controller to provide expert financial leadership, drive statutory reporting, governance, and financial control across the group. You will work with the CFO, executive team and Audit Committee, delivering high-quality reporting and strong governance.

You will lead month-end and year-end closes, manage external audits, and oversee the tax function. The role offers hybrid working, relocation considerations, and regular travel between Horley, Crawley and London.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CA or equivalent.
• Experience in large, regulated organisations with board exposure.
• Strong IFRS/FRS102 knowledge and statutory reporting.
• Proven experience leading financial accounting, consolidation and external audits.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and executive-level influencing skills.
• Track record of leading high-performing teams and finance transformation.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert financial leadership and advice to the CFO and senior governance bodies.
• Lead the group tax function and ensure compliance with UK tax laws.
• Oversee Annual Report and Accounts and statutory/consolidated reporting.
• Oversee covenant reporting and governance with lenders and committees.
• Direct Financial Reporting and Control teams and foster continuous improvement.
• Maintain the financial control framework, governance and balance sheet integrity.
• Lead monthly, quarterly and year-end close activities with timely information.
• Coordinate external audits and manage auditor relationships.

Skills

Stakeholder management

IFRS

Governance

Financial reporting

Education

ACA, ACCA, CA or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Consolidation software

Job description

Group Financial Controller

Full Time | Competitive Salary (dependent on experience and qualifications)

Location: Horley (relocating to Tilgate, Crawley 2027) / London Farringdon, with hybrid working. Regular travel between both locations will be required.

Joint-contribution pension from 6% (12% total) – Car Allowance – Annual Bonus – Enhanced maternity & family leave – Life assurance – HolidayPlus – Virtual GP & Employee Assistance Programme plus retail and leisure discounts & many more.

REQ6189

We deliver safety, warmth, and comfort to homes and businesses. Every role, whether in the office or on the front line, plays a key part in this mission. Here’s how you will contribute…

• Provide expert financial leadership and advice to the CFO, Executive Leadership Team, Board and Audit Committee on accounting, reporting, governance and financial control matters.
• Lead SGN's tax function, ensuring compliance with UK tax legislation across corporation tax, VAT, employment taxes and related statutory requirements.
• Lead the delivery of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts, ensuring high-quality statutory and consolidated financial reporting.
• Oversee financial covenant reporting, ensuring robust governance, review and approval processes are in place before submission to lenders and key committees.
• Provide leadership and direction to the Financial Reporting and Control team, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Own and continuously enhance the financial control framework, maintaining strong governance, effective internal controls and balance sheet integrity.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end and year-end financial close activities, ensuring accurate, timely and insightful financial information is delivered.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, leading the planning, coordination and successful delivery of statutory audits.

What you will need

• Significant experience within a large, complex and regulated organisation, leading group financial control, statutory reporting and governance, ideally with Board and Audit Committee exposure.
• Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CA or equivalent) with a degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or a related discipline.
• Strong technical expertise in IFRS, FRS102, statutory reporting and financial governance requirements.
• Proven experience leading financial accounting, consolidation, financial control and external audit activities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility at executive level and with external advisers.
• A track record of leading high-performing teams and delivering finance transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Not sure you meet every requirement?

Research shows some people – particularly women and those from underrepresented backgrounds – may hesitate to apply unless they meet every criteria. At SGN, we value diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

If this role interests you but you’re not sure you tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you. You might be just who we’re looking for – now or in the future.

Why SGN?

SGN leads pioneering research and development for a net-zero energy system. Our innovative technologies are transforming the gas industry while keeping people safe and warm. We are an award-winning employer, including CCA Gold Awards for Great Places to Work and Inclusivity and Accessibility, and a proud Gold member of the Armed Forces Covenant.

About us | Benefits | Diversity and inclusion

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