Lead Financial Accountant

Butler Rose is partnering with one of our clients in Milton Keynes to recruit a Lead Financial Accountant to join their team. This is a permanent role paying a salary between £58,000 – £64,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

Hybrid working of 3 days in the office and 2 from home.

This is a pivotal role leading statutory reporting, technical accounting, financial control and regulatory compliance across the organisation and Group structure.

This role requires a candidate with deep technical financial reporting expertise, including substantial experience preparing and reviewing consolidated Group financial statements within complex multi-entity organisations. Experience with in the Higher Education and/or charity sectors, alongside strong knowledge of HE SORP and Charity SORP, is highly desirable.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting capability with excellent leadership skills and the ability to operate effectively within a complex regulatory environment.

Reporting to the Head of Finance Operations, the Lead Financial Accountant will take ownership of statutory and regulatory reporting obligations, while leading the Financial Accounting team and supporting continuous improvement across finance operations.

• Leading the preparation and review of statutory accounts and consolidated Group financial statements
• Managing complex consolidations, intercompany reconciliations and audit working papers
• Ensuring compliance with HE SORP, Charity SORP and all relevant accounting and regulatory standards
• Overseeing Foundation and subsidiary reporting within the Group structure
• Coordinating external audits and acting as the primary liaison with auditors
• Managing month‑end close activities and balance sheet reconciliations
• Overseeing VAT, partial exemption, corporation tax and regulatory submissions
• Supporting financial control, process improvement and finance systems development
• Leading and developing a Financial Accounting team of five

You will be a professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with significant post‑qualification experience and a strong track record in technical financial accounting.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant experience preparing consolidated Group financial statements and statutory accounts
• Strong technical financial reporting expertise within a complex organisation
• Excellent understanding of consolidations, financial controls and accounting standards
• Knowledge of Higher Education financial reporting and Charity SORP
• Experience coordinating and managing external audits
• Strong VAT and corporation tax compliance knowledge
• Advanced Excel and financial systems capability
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Proven experience leading and developing finance teams

Experience with in Higher Education, not‑for‑profit organisations or charitable institutions would be highly advantageous, particularly where combined with strong technical accounting depth.

• Salary of £58,000 – £64,000
• Opportunity to work within a collaborative and values‑driven environment
• Exposure to complex technical accounting and Group reporting
• A key leadership role with the opportunity to influence finance operations and process improvement
• Professional development and progression opportunities