The Old Vic
Financial Controller

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Department/Team: Finance
Responsible to: Chief Financial Officer
Contract: Permanent
Location: Mix of home working and from The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB (currently three days in the office)
Hours: Full-Time
The Old Vic offers the ability to work these flexibly under the guidelines in our Hybrid Working policy. Additional hours may be necessary in order to fulfil the requirements of the post
Salary: £55k-£60k
Direct reports: Transactions Manager, Payroll Manager
Role Summary
The purpose of the post is to manage the financial control environment, cash flows and financial systems/processing for The Old Vic alongside ensuring all financial and statutory reporting requirements are met.
Your Team
The Financial Controller will lead a team of three (Transactions Manager, Payroll Manager, Finance Assistant) and work closely with The Old Vic’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Management Team. In conjunction with the Production & Reporting Manager they will be responsible for all finance delivery for The Old Vic.
Areas of responsibility
The Role will be responsible for:
Statutory
- Lead on the external audit and management of the audit process for all entities
- Preparation of statutory financial statements and narrative
- Submissions to Companies House and The Charities Commission
- Preparation of financial reporting information to lenders and donors
- Quarterly and Annual VAT return preparation and submission including annual adjustments and Capital Goods Scheme compliance
- Filing of tax returns – CT and supervision of PAYE
- Supervision of pension filings
- Supervision of payroll compliance reporting including Foreign Entertainers Tax, Pensions and Taxable Benefits
- Supporting the Chief Financial Officer with legal and data compliance matters
Financial Accounting
- Leadership on monthly financial accounting and group consolidation for all entities
- Ownership of the organisation balance sheet and ensuring completion of monthly balance sheet reconciliations in liaison with the Production Accountant
- Responsibility for accounting for restricted funds
- Responsible for accurate payment and posting of weekly and monthly payrolls including recharges
Financial Controls
- Ownership of the financial and cash controls for the organization including the purchase order process, payroll and expense management
- Regular updating of financial controls documentation with stakeholders
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Financial Reporting
- Support with Preparation of three-year plan, budgets and forecasts
- Lead on all aspect of Balance Sheet and Cash flow financial planning, reporting and analysis
- Accurate, timely and complete reporting against budgets and forecasts for performance, reserves, cash and debt
Cash Flow and Borrowings
- Detailed monthly and weekly cashflow forecasting
- Proactive management of borrowings, investments and cash deposits to maximise investment income and ensure that full compliance and controls are in place
- Provision of management information and compliance management for loan providers
Payroll
- Manage effective payroll, including: Preparing payroll calculations, submissions, pension administration, payroll year end schedules and PSA calculation and submission
- Monthly Payroll Management Reporting and Analysis
- Responsibility for ensuring that Pay is accurate, complete and compliant with no service interruptions
- In conjunction with HR, provision of cover for the Payroll Manager in emergencies or scheduled leave
- In conjunction with HR and the Payroll Manager, supervision of payroll updates including implantation of projects or benefits provision through the payroll system
Systems
- Ownership of the finance system and chart of accounts
- Act as superuser and provide training to new users
- Plan and manage the delivery of regular system updates
- Continuous improvement of systems and processes
General
- Support in leadership of The Old Vic as a key senior manager
- Support the wider organisation with financial training and process understanding
- Undertake or delegate other tasks and projects as directed by the Chief Financial Officer
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and the Theatre's management may, at any time, allocate other tasks which are of a similar nature or level.
Person Specification
- Qualified CCAB accountant (original certificate required)
- Strong technical accounting skills
- Proven experience of managing audits – either directly as an auditor or on the client side
- Proven experience of improving financial processes and systems
- Proven line management/coaching experience
- Exemplary organisation skills as well as written and verbal communication skills
- Advanced Excel skills
- Strong interest in data and analytics
- A positive ‘can do’ approach and strong relationship building skills across departments.
- Acute attention to detail
- A proven ability to work effectively and efficiently
- Ability to work to deadlines and prioritise tasks


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
How to Apply
We understand that everyone is different and we want you to apply in whichever way you feel best shows your skills and experience. There are a range of ways that you can apply with us:
- Sending a short video file of yourself (no longer than two minutes in length), detailing your experience, why you are applying for the role and what about working at The Old Vic interests you.
- Sending a short audio file of yourself (no longer than two minutes in length), detailing your experience, why you are applying for the role and what about working at The Old Vic interests you.
- Completing our application form.
- Uploading your CV and covering letter, explaining why you are interested in the role and working at the Old Vic.
The Old Vic has made a commitment that all applicants with disabilities who meet the essential criteria for this job will be invited to interview.
All appointments are made subject to satisfactory references and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
The Process
The recruitment process for this role will be two stages:
- 1st stage virtual conversation
- 2nd stage virtual/in person conversation
You may be asked to complete a work based skills assessment or challenge
The closing date for this role is Sunday 11 October at 11:59pm. It is likely that short-listing will happen w/c 12 September with interviews at stages 1 and 2 to happen over the following two weeks
Equal Opportunities
We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from people of the global majority, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and disabled candidates.
We may take positive action, in cases where candidates are equally qualified, to increase the employment of under-represented groups at The Old Vic.
In the event that we ask you to attend the theatre for a conversation and you are struggling financially, we may be able to reimburse you for any reasonable travel costs.
We partner with a range of inclusive organisations, to find out more please read our FAQs.
FAQs
Read our recruitment and selection and equal opportunities FAQs here.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location