Financial Controller (Ark and Ventures)
Reports to: Finance Director for Ark and Ventures
Location: Currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office
Contract: Permanent
Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)
Closing date: 05/05/2025
1st stage interviews: w/c 05/05/2025 (virtual)
2nd stage interviews: w/c 12/05/2025 (in person)
Salary: £60,000 to £75,000 (depending on experience)
About the role:
This is a vital and high-profile role for us and requires a person with strong technical skills and the power of independent thought; meticulous organisational skills and attention to detail; and drive to constantly develop new and improved ways of working. The successful candidate will be a qualified and committed accountant, ready to lead financial control for Ark’s central Finance team.
The Financial Controller will be mainly responsible for ensuring the highest standards of financial control are met across Ark, its subsidiaries and the various external ventures Ark supports. Within this, the role will be responsible for the processing and reporting of financial accounting data for Ark and its related entities, day-to-day cash flow management and compliant statutory returns (including VAT).
The Financial Controller for Ark and Ventures will report into Finance Director for Ark and Ventures. This role is currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office on a permanent basis working full time.
First-round interviews will take place virtually w/c Monday 5th May and second-round interviews will take place in person w/c Monday 12th May.
Key Responsibilities:
* Staff management including training and regular appraisals. The team currently consists of two Finance Officers. Also supporting two business partners.
* Provide up-to-date financial information and technical advice to Ark management and the Venture teams, including cash management.
* Lead the year-end process, including creation of annual accounts for Ark and its related entities (excluding Ark Schools) and overseeing the audits.
* First review of monthly management accounts.
* Take responsibility for the year-end audit and preparation/supervision of draft statutory accounts for the Group and 5 subsidiary entities in accordance with Charities SORP, Companies Act and UK GAAP. Liaise with auditors and ensure timetable and deadlines are met
* Management and oversight of the month-end process to ensure timely period close, including approval of all manual journals posted to the accounting system.
* Review and approval of balance sheets control account reconciliations, including bank reconciliation, petty cash, purchase ledger, staff loans, credit card, and Payroll accounts.
* Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Group’s cash flow and Treasury and preparation of performance reports for the Ark Management Team and Finance and Risk Committee.
* Set-up and maintenance of PS Financials (accounting system) and Concur (invoice and expense system), including maintaining workflows in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation.
* Relationship owner for Lloyds (banker), including set-up of Commercial Banking Online and credit cards in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation. Responsible for maintaining all bank accounts and mandates.
* Responsibility for writing and maintaining finance policies and processes, including the financial Scheme of Delegation, and ensuring these are freely available to all relevant staff.
* Accounts Payable Lead ensuring all suppliers are paid on time. Responsible for processing weekly BACs runs and authorisations in line with the Scheme of Delegation.
* Manage insurance provision for the Ark Group.
Key Requirements:
* Right to work in the UK.
* Professional Accounting Qualification (at least 3-years post-qualification).
* Educated to degree level or equivalent.
* A record of Continuing Professional Development activities.
* Audit experience.
* Hands on experience of producing statutory accounts.
* Experience of VAT, including international and/or construction industry scheme reverse charge, ideally in a charity context.
* Advanced level IT skills and ability to make effective use of standard software packages, e.g., Microsoft Words, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
* Staff management.
* Knowledge of the latest Charities SORP and Companies Act.
* Understanding and/or experience of working across a Group structure with a variety of business activities.
* Exceptional written and oral communication skills, influencing and relationship building skills at multiple levels.
* Self-motivated with excellent time-management skills and the ability to plan, manage and prioritise a varied workload, and to take responsibility for issues through to resolution.
* High attention to detail, proactive, confident, independent thinker and an enthusiastic ‘can do’ attitude.
* Ability to effectively present financial information at the appropriate level.
* Ability to challenge and influence assertively and cooperatively.
Benefits:
* Our hybrid working model aims to offer the best of both worlds, striking the right balance between in-person collaboration and remote working. You will work a minimum of two days per week in our state-of-the-art office in West London allowing you to connect with colleagues, with the flexibility to work remotely, or in the office over the remaining days
* In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
* Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments
* 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
* Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
* As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to
* Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
* Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests.
About Us:
Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Our network of 39 schools reaches traditionally underserved communities in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. We educate 30,000 pupils and have nearly 3,000 teaching staff across our network. We also incubate and scale innovative ventures, which we roll out beyond our network of schools for the benefit of teachers, pupils and the education system as a whole. Current Ventures include Ark Curriculum Plus, which equips teachers with the subject expertise needed to ensure students succeed, and Ark Start, a growing chain of nurseries offering affordable, high-quality early years education.
Recently, Ark moved to new offices at EdCity – a unique not-for-profit development in West London, in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council. EdCity is designed to bring mission-aligned organisations together to focus on improving the lives of children, especially through education. It offers leased offices, a range of venues for training and events, and an innovation hub for the education sector to connect, collaborate and learn together.
Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.
Safeguarding statement:
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.
Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.