Senior Financial Reporting Manager

ZSL London; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation charity in London is looking for a Senior Financial Reporting Manager. This hybrid role requires a qualified accountant to lead financial reporting and budgeting, manage a small team, and provide strategic insights. The ideal candidate will have strong financial business partnering experience and advanced Microsoft Excel skills. This position is critical for the charity's financial success and involves collaborating with senior stakeholders.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

Flexible working options

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Wellbeing initiatives

Life assurance scheme

Complimentary zoo tickets

Cycle to work scheme

Interest-free season ticket loan

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Experience leading a business partner function.
• Proven ability to provide insight from financial and non-financial data.
• Experience managing a small team with success in guidance and coaching.

Responsibilities

• Lead ZSL’s financial and commercial reporting including budgeting and forecasting.
• Oversee financial accounting and statutory reporting.
• Develop ZSL’s business partnering team while providing strategic insights.

Skills

Qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA or CIMA)

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Financial business partnering

Team management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Professional accounting qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Microsoft Word

Job description

ZSL is looking for an experienced and qualified accountant to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial success of one of the world’s leading conservation organisations.

Senior Financial Reporting Manager

Location: Head Office, Regents Park, London NW1 Hybrid
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Salary: £70,000 per annum

Purpose of the Role

This is a visible, high‑profile position that offers the opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders, providing strategic insight and driving excellence across ZSL’s financial and commercial reporting.

As Senior Reporting Manager, you will lead a small, high‑performing team and take responsibility for ZSL’s business and commercial reporting, including monthly performance reporting, budgeting, forecasting, KPIs and business planning, as well as financial reporting on cash, reserves and the balance sheet. You’ll also support the year‑end process and preparation of the Annual Report, while contributing expert financial analysis and modelling to inform decision‑making across ZSL’s four businesses.

This is a hybrid role, typically based 2‑3 days per week at ZSL’s iconic Regent’s Park headquarters. It’s an exciting opportunity for a strategic finance leader who thrives in a mission‑driven environment.

Key responsibilities

• Financial & Commercial Reporting: Lead ZSL’s financial and commercial reporting, including month‑end close, business planning, budgeting, forecasting, KPI development and performance insights, ensuring timely, high‑quality analysis and clear reporting that supports strategic decision‑making. This includes the development of finance reports, through systems such as Power BI.
• Financial Accounting: Oversee ZSL’s financial accounting and statutory reporting, including consolidated cashflow, balance sheet and reserves management, VAT and Gift Aid returns, and year‑end audit preparation, ensuring robust ledger integrity, accurate reconciliations and successful sign‑off of the Annual Report and Financial Statements.
• Leadership and Business Partnering: Lead and develop ZSL’s business partnering team while working directly with senior stakeholders across the organisation, providing strategic insights and hands‑on support to drive performance, growth and alignment across all four business units, including dedicated focus on the Fundraising and People Directorates.

About You

• Qualified accountant (either ACCA, ACA or CIMA) with proven experience leading a business partner function.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and experience of PowerPoint.
• Proven finance business partnering experience working within a large complex organisation.
• Ability to drive continuous improvement in business performance whilst maintaining positive relationships.
• Experience of managing a small team, with a successful track record of providing direction, support and coaching.
• Ability to provide insight from financial and non‑financial data.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, being able to build strong relationships with senior stakeholders balancing support and challenge.

About Us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

What do we offer?

• Our vision and purpose – you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science‑led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct
• Pension scheme – we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you
<>Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops
• Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle
• Season ticket loan – we offer an interest‑free loan for eligible London‑based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work
• Family‑friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption packages

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.

This role is subject to standard pre‑employment checks, including the candidate’s right to work in the UK.

Closing Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
N.B: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.

It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience and knowledge. Over‑reliance on AI‑generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.