Financial Controller
Closing Date: Thu 30 April, 17:00 BST
On this page
Applications
Please apply online, or alternatively, download the application form in Word and email it to hr@watershed.co.uk.
Do get in touch if you would like any of this information, or wish to apply, in another format.
Please do not include your CV as it will not be considered. Please put all relevant information on your application form.
Job description
- Position
- Financial Controller
- Grade
- XLT
- Salary
- £60,000–£70,000 per annum
- Hours
- Full time.
- Contract type
- Permanent
- Responsible to
- CEO
- Location
- Hybrid working available (at least 3 days per week in office)
Purpose of job
The Financial Controller is responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of Watershed's financial operations across the Trust and Trading Company. This includes management and statutory accounting, financial controls, compliance, reporting, and cash flow management.
The role provides reliable, timely financial information to the Leadership Team, and Board, and ensures we are meeting the needs of our external funders on financial matters. The Financial Controller manages the finance team and works closely with budget holders across the organisation to support sound financial decision-making.
Main responsibilities
Financial control and compliance
- Maintain and develop robust financial controls to mitigate the risk of fraud and error across both the Trust and Trading Company
- Ensure all financial activities comply with relevant legislation and regulations, including Charity Commission requirements, HMRC obligations, and company law
- Lead Watershed's annual audit process and prepare statutory accounts for both entities
- Maintain and develop finance policies and procedures, ensuring these are clearly documented and consistently applied
Management accounts and reporting
- Ensure accurate and timely monthly management accounts are delivered for both the Trust and the Trading Company
- Provide clear financial reporting to the CEO, Senior Management Team, Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees on financial performance, risks, and resilience
- Prepare financial reports for key funders including Arts Council England and the British Film Institute in line with their requirements
- Manage financial reporting for other funders and statutory purposes as required
Budgeting and forecasting
- Lead a collaborative annual budget process with budget holders and the Senior Management Team, ensuring the budget is well-aligned to Watershed's strategy and business plan
- Maintain an up-to-date rolling cash flow forecast for the Watershed group
- Produce reforecasts as required, providing clear variance analysis and commentary
Team leadership
- Line management of senior members of the Finance Team including performance management and professional development
- Foster a collaborative, well-organised finance function that is responsive and helpful to colleagues across the organisation
Additional requirements
- Attend Finance Committee and Board meetings as required
- Carry out any other duties reasonably required
- A Member of Watershed’s Extended Leadership team – attends monthly XLT meeting, feeds into organisational decision making and strategy
Key performance indicators
- Management accounts are produced accurately and to agreed deadlines each month
- Annual budget is developed collaboratively and signed off on time
- Strong stakeholder relationships exist at all levels
- Watershed remains compliant with financial legislation, with a clean year-end audit outcome
- Funder financial reports are submitted accurately and on time
- Finance team is well-managed and supported to develop professionally
Essential criteria
- Fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW or equivalent)
- Demonstrable experience in a similar financial controller or senior finance role
- Experience preparing management accounts and statutory accounts for a group structure or multi-entity organisation
- Strong understanding of charity accounting and Charity Commission requirements
- Experience with Xledger or similar cloud-based finance platforms
- Experience leading a finance team
Application process
Closing date:
We will be conducting short interviews with all applicants who meet the essential criteria. A shortlist will then be invited to a longer second interview.
First round interview / presentation (if relevant):
Second round interview:
Working at Watershed
Find out more about staff benefits, our values and more about our approach.
Access
Watershed will work with candidates to ensure their access needs are met during the interview process and will ensure access requirements are not a factor in decision making.
Equal opportunities monitoring
We are striving to understand more about who applies to work with us. At the end of the application process we invite you to complete our anonymous equal opportunities monitoring form, which will not be shared with anyone involved in the recruitment process.
Opening hours
At full operation, Watershed is open seven days a week, including Bank Holidays (Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the only exceptions). Watershed is a public building, which operates a diverse range of cultural and commercial activities. The post holder will need to be comfortable working in this environment.
Before you apply
Watershed's first value is Inclusive – We listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs. The information below lays out some of the steps we are taking to create a more inclusive recruitment process. Many of these steps are new to us, so feedback and questions are very welcome.
You may not have worked in a cultural organisation before, or in an organisation like Watershed. Please still consider applying as many other sectors offer transferable contexts.
If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the culture sector - for example you are from a community that experiences racism or you are a disabled person (as defined by the Equalities Act 2010), or you did not go to University or had free school meals as a child - and you would like support to articulate how your experience is transferable to this role, you can book time with us to discuss it. We will ensure the person you meet is not involved in the recruitment process. Please request this by emailing hr@watershed.co.uk (we will not ask you to disclose your background).
We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity and welcome applications from those who bring balance to our team. Watershed welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do. Supporting our staff means they are not appointed to represent specific groups or organisations.
Watershed Values
As a registered charity and social enterprise, Watershed has well-established brand values. We seek to apply our values in everything we do and ask staff, partners, suppliers and collaborators to do the same.
Our values are:
- Inclusive We listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs
- Transparent We share our approach openly and clearly, working at a pace which enables everyone to participate who wishes to
- Responsible We use our resources generously and sustainably, considering our impact on future generations
- Kind We are careful and caring with ourselves and with others
- Hopeful We celebrate culture, creativity and wonder as paths to a better future
Watershed is a Social Enterprise Mark holder. Social Enterprises are businesses whose products and services create both social and environmental benefits.
Closing Date: Thu 30 April, 17:00 BST