Head of Financial Reporting

ACCA Careers; St Andrews; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £60k-£65k

Pension 14.5% employer contribution

39 days annual leave

Hybrid working (min 2 days in office)

Job summary

ACCA Careers is partnering with a prestigious organisation in St Andrews to appoint a Head of Financial Reporting. The role leads the Financial Reporting team, delivering robust reporting, governance and controls across multiple entities while guiding transformation and system development.

You will report to the Director of Finance, drive statutory compliance and continuous improvement, and shape the finance function through strong leadership and expert technical accounting.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with post‑qualification experience
• Experience preparing statutory financial statements under FRS102
• Experience leading month‑end and year‑end within a complex organisation
• Proven track record managing external audits
• Experience leading finance teams
• Strong financial governance and balance sheet management
• Excellent stakeholder communication
• Advanced Excel and financial data analysis
• Experience with ERP systems and finance transformation
• Proactive, continuous improvement mindset

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial reporting function, ensuring timely month‑end and year‑end reporting
• Oversee consolidation of annual financial statements and statutory reporting
• Manage relationships with external auditors and coordinate the annual audit
• Ensure robust balance sheet controls and reconciliations
• Prepare financial performance reports for senior management and governance committees
• Provide technical accounting guidance on complex matters
• Oversee regulatory submissions and external reporting requirements
• Support development of financial systems, reporting capability and efficiency
• Lead financial governance, including policies and delegated authorities
• Drive improvements in controls and reporting efficiency
• Support strategic projects and new accounting standards implementations
• Mentor and develop the Financial Reporting team and contribute to Finance leadership

Skills

Financial reporting

Governance

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Technical accounting

Audit management

Financial control

Financial analysis

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ ACCA/ ICAS/ CIMA)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Cooper Parr Finance Recruitment are delighted to be partnering exclusively with a prestigious complex organisation based in St Andrews for the appointment of a Head of Financial Reporting. Managing a substantial and diverse business with multiple entities, significant funding streams and a broad stakeholder base and following a period of finance transformation and systems development, we are seeking an experienced finance leader to further strengthen the organisations financial reporting, governance and control environment.

This is a key position within Finance, reporting directly to the Director of Finance and providing financial stewardship across the organisation and its subsidiary entities. The successful candidate will lead the Financial Reporting team whilst ensuring the delivery of robust financial reporting, regulatory compliance and continuous process improvement. This role offers a salary up to £65,000 + 39 days annual leave, 14.5% employer pension contribution and flexible hybrid working (minimum of 2 days a week in office).

The Opportunity

You will take responsibility for all aspects of monthly and annual financial reporting, financial governance and statutory compliance across the organisation and its subsidiary entities. Leading a dedicated Financial Reporting team, you will oversee the preparation of consolidated financial statements, manage key relationships with both external and internal auditors, and ensure the continued development of efficient, effective and well‑controlled financial processes. The role combines high‑level technical accounting expertise with leadership, stakeholder engagement and strategic project involvement.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading the financial reporting function, ensuring accurate and timely month‑end and year‑end reporting
• Overseeing the preparation of consolidated annual financial statements and statutory reporting requirements
• Managing relationships with external auditors and coordinating the annual audit process
• Ensuring robust balance sheet control and reconciliation processes across the organisation
• Preparing financial performance reports and executive reporting for senior management and governance committees
• Providing technical accounting guidance on complex financial matters
• Overseeing the preparation of regulatory submissions and external reporting requirements
• Supporting the ongoing development of financial systems, reporting capability and process efficiency
• Leading financial governance activities, including financial regulations, delegated authorities and policy development
• Driving improvements across financial controls, month‑end processes and reporting efficiency
• Supporting strategic projects and leading the implementation of new accounting standards and regulatory changes
• Managing, mentoring and developing the Financial Reporting team and contributing to the wider leadership of the Finance function

The Candidate

We are seeking a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, ICAS, CIMA or equivalent) with extensive financial reporting and financial control experience gained within a complex ideally multi‑entity organisation.

You will be a technically strong finance leader with experience of managing reporting teams, leading audit processes and delivering high‑quality financial information to senior stakeholders. Equally important will be your ability to build relationships, influence decision‑making and drive continuous improvement across systems and processes.

We’re Particularly Interested In Individuals Who Can Demonstrate

• Professional accounting qualification with significant post‑qualified experience
• Strong technical accounting expertise, including preparation of statutory financial statements under FRS102
• Experience leading month‑end and year‑end reporting processes within a complex organisation
• A proven track record of managing external audits and working with internal audit functions
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing finance teams
• Strong financial control, governance and balance sheet management experience
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly
• Advanced Excel and financial data analysis capabilities
• Experience of ERP systems and finance transformation projects
• A proactive, organised and continuous improvement mindset

What’s on Offer

In addition to a visible leadership role within a respected and values‑driven organisation, the successful candidate will receive:

• A salary of £60,000 - £65,000 depending on experience
• 14.5% employer pension contribution
• 39 days annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (minimum 2 days a week in the office)
• The opportunity to influence and shape a key finance function
• Exposure to significant finance transformation and strategic projects
• A collaborative and supportive working environment
• The chance to make a meaningful impact within a complex and purpose‑driven organisation

This represents an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and technically strong Accountant to join a large and evolving organisation, playing a key role in strengthening financial reporting, governance and control while supporting long‑term strategic objectives.