Head of Financial Control, Governance and Accounts (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leed[...]

Genomics England; London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Genomics England is seeking a Head of Financial Control, Governance & Accounts to oversee critical financial processes and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations. The successful candidate will lead a high-performing team, collaborating closely with senior leadership and guiding strategic financial direction while fostering a culture of inclusivity and professional growth.

Benefits

30 days holiday plus bank holidays and additional leave for long service

Blended working arrangements and flexible working

Defined contribution pension with company matching

Individual learning budgets and support for training

Employee recognition programme and referral scheme

Subsidised gym membership and access to health resources

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience with a high-performing team.
• Strong financial acumen and technical expertise in accounting principles.
• Highly proficient in financial tools and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team responsible for financial processes and controls.
• Manage statutory finance duties and ensure compliance.
• Provide expert advice on financial assurance and governance.

Skills

Leadership

Financial Acumen

Data-driven decision making

Relationship building

Education

ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent accreditation

Tools

Financial tools and ERP systems

Job description

Head of Financial Control, Governance and Accounts (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds & London)

• Full-time
• Department: Finance
• Office: London

Genomics Englandpartners with the NHS to provide whole genome sequencing diagnostics. We also equip researchers to find the causes of disease and develop new treatments – with patients and participants at the heart of it all.

Our mission is to continue refining, scaling, and evolving our ability to enable others to deliver genomic healthcare and conduct genomic research.

We areaccelerating our impactand working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

We are seeking an accomplished Head of Financial Control, Governance & Accounts to serve as the key technical finance partner to senior leadership across Genomics England.

This role will lead a dedicated team responsible for overseeing critical financial processes and controls, ensuring the organisation meets its statutory, regulatory, legal, and accounting officer obligations with rigor and integrity.

Everyday responsibilities include:

• Leading an inclusive, high-performing team, ensuring the appropriate skills are in place to fulfil our mission and execute our responsibilities in accordance with financial standards (FRS102/IFRS) and control measures established within Genomics England.
• Understanding Genomics England's strategic direction and its impact on financial systems, processes, and capabilities. Provide constructive advice for effective implementation of necessary changes.
• Provide expert advice on financial assurance, governance, and compliance to team and senior managers as the trusted technical finance partner.
• Manage Genomics England's key statutory finance duties, including financial accounts and government audit services.
• Ensuring the efficient and effective management of Genomics England's regulatory finance obligations, encompassing tax issues, supplier payments, and employee remuneration.
• Efficiently utilise technology in role, including the financial system, implementing new systems/processes as needed to enhance business delivery and financial controls, reporting, and team capability.
• Accountable for ensuring consistent financial standards, policies, processes, and systems are established and maintained. This includes setting expectations for the Finance Team’s activities while supporting the broader service and delivery of Genomics England.

Skills & experience for success:

• Proven leadership experience with a track record of motivating teams, supporting professional growth, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture.
• Skilled in building strong relationships and collaboration networks, engaging internal teams and key delivery partners (e.g., Auditors, Shareholder), while demonstrating professional credibility as a senior leader and building trust and confidence among executives, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Strong financial acumen and technical expertise in accounting principles, financial reporting, and compliance standards (including FRS102/IFRS), with the ability to analyse complex financial data and implement effective control measures for compliance and governance.
• Experienced in data-driven decision-making, guiding teams with sound judgment while ensuring alignment with risk management and control frameworks.
• Highly proficient in financial tools and ERP systems, leveraging technology to drive process improvements and deliver value to stakeholders.

Current ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent accreditation.

Salary from £75,600

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including:

• Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, additional leave for long service, and the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), and a Give As You Earn scheme.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Equal opportunities and our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background.

Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity and will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor.

Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour is contrary toour virtues , undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity.

We aim to remove barriers in our recruitment processes and to be flexible with our interview processes. Should you require any adjustments that may help you to fully participate in the recruitment process, we encourage you to discuss this with us.

Blended working model

Genomics England operates a blended working modelas we know our people appreciate the flexibility that hybrid working can bring.We expect most people to come into the office a minimum of 2 times each month.However, this will vary according to role and will be agreed with your team leader. There is no expectation that people will return to the office full time unless they want to, however, some of our roles require full time on site attendancee.g., lab teams, reception team.

Our teams and squads have, and will continue to reflect on what works best for them to work together successfully and have the freedom to design working patterns to suit, beyond the minimum.Our office locations are: Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds.

Onboarding background checks

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We therefore require applicants to disclose any previous offences at point of application, as some unspent convictions may mean we are unable to proceed with your application due to the nature of our work in healthcare.