Financial Controller

Job Title:

Financial Controller.

Salary: £47,000 to £52,000 depending on experience, plus £3,000 London Weighting (where applicable).

Recruitment window: 3 August - 2 September 2026 (could be closed sooner).

Reporting to:
Chief Operating Officer.

Line management:
Finance Team.

Contract:

Permanent - full-time (37.5 hours, Monday to Friday). The Access Project welcomes reasonable requests for flexible working arrangements.

Job location:

Hybrid/London office (those posted within commutable distance of London can be considered for the role and are welcome to apply).

Interview date: 11 & 14 September 2026 (potential for changes).

Start date:

1 October 2026.

Interview questions will focus on your experience that will be relevant to this job description as well as HOW you work. We want to understand technical expertise as well as how you work with people.

Summary of the interview process:

• In person:
  Interview with Chief Operating Officer and an Executive and/or Trustee.
• Focus areas will include strategic financial management experience, developing fit for purpose stakeholder reporting solutions including statutory reporting, experience of developing and maintaining a sound financial control framework, clear evidence of a cross-functional business partnering approach when delivering solutions.
• MS Teams:
  Staff Panel interview, facilitated by Chief Operating Officer.
• Focus areas will include evidence of a business partnering approach, demonstrable alignment with The Access Project mission and values.

This is an exciting role for a motivated self-starter, who is keen to make a key contribution to delivering financial strategy and has a well-rounded business partnering approach to delivering Finance solutions. The Access Project has ambitious plans to grow and is looking for a Financial Controller to build strong foundations in relation to financial literacy and commercial awareness across the organisation whilst working closely with the Executive.

This role will be crucial in supporting the Chief Operating Officer to deliver strategic plans over the next five years.

This role will give you the opportunity to build strong relationships across the organisation and provide outstanding customer service to various stakeholders.

Given the relative size of the organisation, this is a broad role, encompassing many different aspects of Finance and therefore will provide an amazing opportunity for the right candidate to develop a broad Finance skillset.

• The Financial Controller will play a key role in managing strategic financial plans including supporting budget holders across the organisation.
• Leading budget preparation, implementation, variance analysis as well as forecasting cycles, including multi-year forecasts and financial models in line with the organisation's strategic goals.
• Enabling budget holders, through business partnering and training, to manage their own budgets effectively and make commercial decisions based on sound understanding of strategic financial drivers of the organisation and effective use of finance systems such as XLedger.
• Developing financial strategy and associated KPIs through bespoke financial models tracking effective use of funds.
• Working closely with the Sales and Partnerships team to ensure the accuracy of the in-year fundraising pipeline and future income projections.
• Supporting the Sales and Partnerships team with financial information for funding applications and producing financial reports to funders.
• Excellent understanding restricted funding, its implications and ensuring that spend is in line with requirements of funders and Charities SORP.

• Overseeing a successful month-end process including reviewing the work of the finance team and meeting reporting deadlines. This will include overseeing month-end journals and preparation of balance sheet reconciliations.
• Producing high-quality monthly management accounts with insightful variance analysis and commentary aimed at the Executive, Fin Co and Trustees, including reporting on finance and fundraising KPIs.
• Managing…