Head of Financial Accounting

Royal Shakespeare Company; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Shakespeare Company seeks a Head of Financial Accounting & Control to lead our financial accounting, transaction services and payroll during a period of transformation. Reporting to the CFO, you will ensure robust financial control, statutory compliance and insightful reporting across the organisation and subsidiaries.

This is a full-time, on-site leadership role based in Stratford-upon-Avon. The role involves guiding a team of 11 through three direct reports and driving finance

Qualifications

• Qualified accounting qualification (ACA or ACCA preferred).
• Experience leading statutory audits within medium to large organisations.
• Strong technical accounting expertise and ability to develop teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Financial Accounting, Transaction Services and Payroll teams (11 staff across 3 direct reports).
• Deliver statutory reporting, group consolidations and annual audits.
• Drive process improvements across financial controls and systems.
• Oversee VAT, insurance, cash management and regulatory returns.
• Provide strategic input into commercial ventures and funding models.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to deliver finance transformation.

Skills

Team Leadership

Statutory Reporting

Group Consolidation

Audits

Stakeholder Management

Education

ACA/ACCA qualification

Job description

Are you a qualified accountant with the technical expertise to lead complex statutory reporting and audits, the leadership skills to inspire and develop teams, and the vision to drive finance transformation? Do you enjoy building strong relationships, improving processes and delivering robust financial governance while enabling organisational growth?

We are looking for an experienced Head of Financial Accounting & Control to lead our financial accounting, transaction services and payroll functions during a period of transformation.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you will play a critical role in ensuring robust financial control, statutory compliance and insightful financial reporting across the organisation and its subsidiaries. This is a highly visible leadership position, combining technical accounting expertise with strategic thinking, continuous improvement and people leadership.

As we embark on the implementation of a new finance platform and modernise key processes, this role offers a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change while maintaining a strong control environment and supporting organisational growth.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading the Financial Accounting, Transaction Services and Payroll teams, providing leadership to a team of 11 through three direct reports.
• Delivering statutory reporting, group consolidations and annual audits, including the preparation of consolidated financial statements.
• Driving continuous improvement across financial processes, controls and systems to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
• Overseeing VAT, insurance management, cash management and external regulatory returns.
• Providing strategic financial input into new commercial ventures, funding models and organisational initiatives.
• Working collaboratively with senior leaders to deliver finance transformation and strengthen financial governance across the organisation.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA or ACCA preferred) with significant post-qualified financial accounting experience.
• Strong technical accounting expertise, including group consolidation and leading statutory audits within medium to large organisations.
• Proven experience leading and developing teams in a deadline-driven environment.
• A track record of improving financial processes and controls while maintaining robust governance standards.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial matters to non-financial audiences.
• Strong commercial awareness, sound judgement and a proactive approach to problem solving and decision making.

Why this role matters

The Finance function plays a vital role in delivering accurate, insightful and timely information that underpins strategic decision making across the organisation. Beyond reporting, our team is focused on commercial performance, transformation and continuous improvement.

As Head of Financial Accounting & Control, you will help shape the future of the function, ensuring strong financial stewardship while leading change that enables the organisation to thrive.

What success looks like

In your first year, you will:

• Deliver all statutory reporting and audit requirements on time.
• Take ownership of complex technical accounting issues and drive successful resolutions.
• Implement improvements to audit processes and the overall control environment.
• Enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of transaction processing activities.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders, colleagues, auditors and external stakeholders.
• Lead a high-performing, engaged and motivated team that delivers exceptional service across the organisation.

This is a full-time, permanent position, working 35 hours per week, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, with a minimum of 3 days per week onsite.

Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support key deadlines and organisational priorities.

About the RSC

The RSC strives for excellence, and values creativity, inclusivity, sustainability, collaboration, and accountability.

We can offer great benefits and aim to create a welcoming, supportive environment which is happy, healthy and safe. We place great importance upon developing a diverse, highly motivated and energised workforce to help achieve our priorities. We put our values at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to building a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all individuals.

We believe that safeguarding children and adults is everyone's responsibility, and everybody working at the RSC has a duty to place safeguarding at the heart of their work. We welcome candidates who will support and advocate the RSC's environmental objectives continuing to improve our sustainability work and actions both on and off stage.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (no. 212481) is a registered charity.