Financial Controller

Reports to: Director Finance and Procurement, Ark Schools

Location: West London (with flexible working available)

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am - 5.30pm)

Interviews: First round (virtual) w/c 13th July and Second round (in-person) w/c 20th July

In this role you will be responsible for financial processing and reporting, including statutory reporting and compliance of financial accounting data across our 39 academies (48 from September 2026).

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for providing up-to-date financial information and technical advice to Director of Finance and Procurement, Ark Schools management team and the wider academies network
• Responsible for the co-ordination of the year-end audit files and preparation of statutory accounts for the Group and subsidiary entities
• Oversee the maintenance and consolidation of fixed asset ledgers, including year-end capital accruals, write offs, disposals, and capitalisation thresholds
• To support the Director of Finance and Procurement in maintaining and developing an environment of robust financial control as the network develops

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience in building effective teams, developing staff and managing external business relationships
• Strong, hands on, statutory accounts experience
• Knowledge of the latest Charities SORP and Companies Act.
• Knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook and Academies Accounts Direction 2025 is desirable
• Audit and VAT experience with the latter ideally in a charity context
• Must have advanced level IT skills and ability to make effective use of standard software packages, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Ability to use Excel at an advanced level including the use of macros etc.
• You will be an excel superuser

Qualification Criteria:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• CCAB Accountancy qualification with at least 3 years post-qualified experience
• A record of recent and relevant Continued Professional Development
• Right to work in the U.K.