Financial Controller; FTC); Maternity Cover

At Aquila Air Traffic Management Services (ATMS), we are dedicated to creating a workplace where innovation, collaboration, and excellence thrives. As a joint venture between NATS and Thales, we combine the expertise of leading air traffic control services and global systems integration to deliver cutting
- edge solutions in air traffic management.

Join us in shaping the future of air traffic management, and together, we will elevate aviation safety and efficiency worldwide!

We are looking for a Financial Controller to join our team on a 16-month fixed term contract. This role provides an opportunity to contribute to the organisation’s goals and support the work of the wider team. In this position, you will help deliver key activities that support effective operations, continuous improvement, and positive outcomes for colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• As Financial Controller, you’ll play a key role in leading the day-to-day financial control team, providing direction and support to the team while ensuring strong financial control and high-quality reporting.

• Leading the month-end close process, ensuring financial ledgers are accurate, complete and closed on time.

• Managing monthly reconciliations, financial results and reporting, providing clear commentary and resolving issues with Finance colleagues.

• Maintaining robust financial controls and ensuring reporting complies with relevant accounting requirements, including IFRS and UK GAAP.

• Coordinating statutory audit and taxation activities, working closely with external auditors, tax specialists and other key stakeholders.

This is a hands on role where you’ll contribute to meaningful work and play a part in helping the organisation achieve its objectives.

You’re an experienced Finance professional who contributes positively to your team and the wider organisation. You work collaboratively, adapt to different situations, and bring sound judgement to your work. You communicate clearly, build effective working relationships, and approach challenges with a practical, solutions-focused mindset.

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

• Relevant experience as a Financial Controller or in a similar senior Finance role.

• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, month-end close, account reconciliation, IFRS and UK GAAP.

• Experience in financial control, statutory accounts, audit, taxation and cash management.

• The ability to analyse complex financial information, solve problems and communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels.

You also:

• Promote Aquila’s Just Culture
  , reporting incidents, safety non compliance, or potential issues in an appropriate and timely manner.

• Consistently demonstrate behaviours aligned with Aquila’s core values and leadership behaviours in all actions and decisions.

• A fully qualified accountant (
  ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
  ), with current membership of the relevant professional accountancy body.

• Substantial relevant post-qualification experience across financial control, financial reporting and statutory accounts.

• Proven experience of managing month-end close, financial ledgers and balance-sheet reconciliations while working to demanding reporting deadlines.

• Strong technical Finance capability, including a good working knowledge of IFRS and UK GAAP
  , alongside experience of internal controls, taxation compliance and cash management.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and confidence working with financial systems and large data sets.

• Experience of working within the defence or aerospace sector, or another complex or regulated environment.

• Knowledge of IFRIC 12 and/or relevant Finance requirements within a regulated, defence…