Allen Lane
Financial Controller
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Financial Controller
Salary: £65,000
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (36 hours per week)
Hybrid working: 3 days per week in the office, South Kensington
The Natural History Museum is one of the world's most iconic visitor attractions and a globally respected scientific research centre. Home to over 80 million objects and welcoming more than five million visitors annually, we are uniquely placed to inspire people to care about the natural world and tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet.
As we continue to deliver our ambitious strategic priorities, we are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Financial Controller to play a pivotal leadership role within our Finance team.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a qualified finance professional to lead core financial operations, reporting and systems functions while helping shape the Museum's financial strategy and supporting transformational change across the organisation.
About the Role
Reporting to the Head of Finance, the Financial Controller will lead three teams, totalling 12 members of staff, across Financial Accounts, Financial Operations and Finance Systems.
You will be responsible for ensuring the integrity, compliance and effectiveness of the Museum's financial reporting processes, maintaining strong financial controls and delivering excellent finance services across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
As a key member of the Finance leadership team, you will:
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- Lead and develop the Financial Accounts, Financial Operations and Finance Systems teams, ensuring a high-performing, customer-focused finance function.
- Take overall responsibility for the production of statutory accounts, Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) returns and the successful delivery of the annual external audit process.
- Ensure compliance with accounting standards, Charity SORP, FReM, VAT and HMRC requirements, maintaining robust financial controls and governance across the Museum.
- Lead treasury management, cashflow forecasting and stewardship of Museum funds, whilst managing relationships with auditors, government bodies and other external stakeholders.
- Act as a senior finance leader and deputy to the Head of Finance, providing expert financial advice to senior stakeholders and supporting major projects and strategic initiatives.
- Drive continuous improvement across finance systems, reporting, policies and processes, ensuring efficient, compliant and effective financial operations.
- Work in partnership with business leads responsible for income generation, providing strategic advice and aligning teams to work with agility to respond to organisational need.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded finance leader who combines strong technical expertise with excellent stakeholder management and people leadership skills.
You will bring:
- A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant, demonstrable post-qualification experience.
- Proven experience leading and developing finance teams within a complex organisation.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge, including statutory reporting, financial controls and governance.
- Experience of preparing and presenting financial information to senior leadership and Board-level audiences.
- Knowledge of charity accounting, SORP, VAT and HMRC requirements.
- Experience overseeing finance systems and driving process improvement initiatives.
- Advanced Excel skills and strong analytical capabilities.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial concepts for non-finance stakeholders.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach and ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
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Why Join the Natural History Museum?
- 27.5 days annual leave plus public holidays
- Defined contribution pension scheme with up to 10% employer contribution
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Enhanced family-friendly policies
- Life insurance
- Employee assistance and wellbeing support programmes
- Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
Apply Now
The Natural History Museum is partnering exclusively with Allen Lane and Iain Slinn on the recruitment of this exciting opportunity. For a confidential discussion and further information, please contact Iain directly.
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