English National Opera
Financial Controller
Salary: £60,000 - £65,000
Permanent, Full-time
Hybrid working, 1-2 days a week in the office
Closest stations: Covent Garden or Charing Cross
The English National Opera (ENO) is a key part of London s cultural scene, known for delivering opera that is accessible to everyone. With a strong commitment to quality and inclusivity, ENO continues to bring opera to a broad audience while supporting creativity and education.
We are looking for an experienced finance professional to join our team as a Financial Controller. This role will lead on external financial reporting, VAT and corporation tax compliance, and treasury management. Working closely with colleagues across finance and operations, you will play an important part in maintaining and improving ENO s financial accounting and compliance processes.
This hands-on role involves preparing financial statements, working with auditors, and managing the financial aspects of capital projects to ensure budgets are followed. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your financial expertise to an organisation that values cultural and artistic achievement.
About the Role
Reporting to the CFO, the Financial Controller s main responsibilities include:
* As a member of the Executive Plus team, contribute to the leadership and implementation of the strategic direction of ENO.
* Provide leadership and direction to the Financial accounting team, to achieve departmental and organisational objectives.
* Manage the preparation of all financial reporting and tax compliance.
* Ensure that risk and compliance management is embedded and operational across the Division.
* Coordinate monthly review of the Balance sheet and undertake reconciliations where relevant.
* Work with the CFO/CEO, Director of Strategy & HFBP to prepare and present funding requests, including NPO submissions.
* Oversee preparation of financial statements, management of statutory audit and disclosures in accordance with accounting principles, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
* Preparation of Theatre Tax Relief claims, working with external advisors to ensure the accuracy of the return and advising the business on actions to maximise eligibility of spend.
* Coordinate and liaise with external auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with financial reporting and tax obligations .
* Prepare/ supervise preparation of the quarterly Vat return ensuring that partial recovery methodology is operating correctly and remains appropriate to changes in the business model. Review the returns annually and undertake the annual adjustment.
Who are we looking for?
We re seeking a qualified and experienced finance professional who is confident working in a busy and varied environment. The ideal candidate will have:
* A formal accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
* Strong technical finance experience, ideally in a complex organisation.
* Clear and effective communication skills, with the ability to work well with people at all levels.
* A proactive approach to managing priorities and solving problems.
* Experience in the arts, higher education, or charity sectors (desirable but not essential).
We welcome applications from candidates with experience in a range of sectors, including industry, charity, and professional practice