• Own the delivery of ARIA's Annual Report and Accounts which includes owning technical accounting judgements, coordination of organisation wide inputs and governance approvals.
• Manage and direct the external audit process, acting as the principal contact for the NAO throughout the audit cycle.
• Escalate material or contentious matters to the Director of Finance and CFO when appropriate.
• Ensure robust financial reporting, accounting and control processes that supports Executive decision making and meet all statutory and government reporting requirements.
• Maintain an effective financial control framework appropriate for a growing public body operating under MPM principles.
• Assist the Finance Director on engagement with ARIA’s Audit and Risk and Assurance Committee, Board, DSIT and other external stakeholders on matters within the Finance Operations remit.

Modernise finance

• Play a dynamic role in Finance's contribution to ARIA's automation and AI transformation programme, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, insight and user experience through technology.
• Drive continuous improvement across finance systems, data, reporting and operational processes, ensuring they remain scalable as ARIA grows.
• Drive the effective use of data and automation to improve decision-making across Finance and the wider organisation.

Strengthen portfolio financial stewardship

• Lead the continued development of financial frameworks, controls and assurance processes that promote compliance with Managing Public Money, National Audit Office expectations and ARIA's funding model.
• Contribute to the evolution of finance operating models, ensuring clear accountability for financial governance whilst promoting effective programme delivery.
• Work closely with Programme Finance colleagues to strengthen the financial stewardship of ARIA's expanding funding portfolio, ensuring financial governance and post award processes remain proportionate, effective and scalable.
• Lead ARIA’s counterfraud approach and own the continued development and day to day operation of ARIA’s counterfraud framework, ensuring that fraud risks are identified, assessed and managed proportionately.
• Coordinate fraud prevention and detection measures, staff awareness and training, incident response, record keeping and lessons learned.

Leadership

• Act as the main point of contact for direction, feedback and prioritisation for the Finance Operations team.
• Escalate material risks, capacity constraints and contending priorities to the Director of Finance, who will provide timely direction and secure any necessary organisational support.
• Help shape ARIA's Finance function and wider culture, by supporting colleagues driving continuous improvement, and directing or contributing to cross functional projects requiring financial management.

Who you are

A successful candidate will bring many of the following skills and experience.

Essential Criteria

• A recognised professional accountancy qualification, or equivalent substantial technical accounting experience.
• Significant experience leading finance operations and financial control within a complex organisation, including line management and team development.
• Demonstrable experience delivering statutory financial statements and leading external audit processes.
• Strong practical understanding of public sector financial accountability, government accounting and Managing Public Money, (or comparable experience within a highly regulated environment) with the ability to apply these requirements proportionately.
• Experience developing finance systems, processes or operating models that improve organisational effectiveness.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across operational, executive and external stakeholders.
• Strong professional and commercial judgement, analytical ability and communication skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast moving environment.

Desirable Criteria

• Background in grant making, research funding or investment organisations.
• Proven ability to direct teams through organisational change, including technology enabled transformation.
• Track record of supporting organisations through significant growth or scale up.
• Experience in implementing automation, AI and digital transformation within finance.
• Ability to work alongside programme, commercial and investment teams to develop scalable governance frameworks.
• Experience with modern finance systems, vibe coding and workflow automation tools.
• Knowledge of developing and operating counter fraud, financial risk and assurance arrangements.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
• Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
• Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave arrangements
• A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
• Life Assurance
• 2 days of paid volunteer days
• 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• An excellent office location in Kings X, London

Not sure you meet 100% of our criteria? Don’t worry! If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We want to attract the broadest array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to the field, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interests and what you hope to bring to this role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process.

ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. You can read our policy here. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle. You can read about those here.