Financial Controller and Systems Transformation

About Ofcom

Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day.  We make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.

Our culture is clear - we live by our values: Empowerment; Excellence; Collaboration; Agility and Respect. These define how we work to deliver our purpose, now and in the future. The behaviours which support these values set the path for a fully inclusive and innovative culture at Ofcom.

We focus not only on what we do, but how we do it. We pride ourselves on being an organisation of people who genuinely care about helping others. 

About the Team

This role sits within the Financial Control and Business Services team, a multi-discipline team responsible for a range of finance and related services across the organisation. These include: financial accounting and reporting, taxation, internal and external audit, defined benefit pensions, our financial operations and payroll.

Purpose of the Role

The Financial Controller heads up the Financial Control and Business Services Team and also oversees the Finance Systems and Reporting Team, which is responsible for both the running of the systems but also a significant transformation portfolio across our financial systems. 

The Controller is also responsible, along with the Finance Director, for introducing best practice financial management into the organisation and for maintaining the financial control framework and governance of the organisation. The Controller will also drive the strategic transformation agenda around our finance systems and how they interact with wider data transformation across Ofcom. The Financial Controller is the principal liaison with the NAO, and will work closely with the project team to ensure that financial reporting is delivered in a timely and accurate manner.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• Work in a collaborative fashion across various teams in Ofcom, including with the Governance and Accountability team and Communications, to deliver the Ofcom Annual Report and Accounts per the agreed timeline
• Ensure the year-end reporting to Central government, as part of their consolidation process, is delivered in line with agreed approach and timetable and to the appropriate quality
• Ensure the appropriate internal controls and reconciliations are in place to deliver accurate financial reporting in a timely fashion
• Oversee the preparation of monthly and annual financial statements with supporting schedules as part of the Annual report and Accounts and annual external audit
• Provide technical accounting advice to support the review of our accounting policies, ongoing accounting standard updates and their relevance and impact to Ofcom and incorporation into the accounts where appropriate
• Present the financial reporting to the Risk and Audit Committee as part of the year end governance process
• Manage the relationship with the NAO and oversee the planning and execution of the year-end audit with the NAO team, ensuring the delivery of the financial accounting and related governance audit deliverables

Finance Operations, Pensions and Payroll services

• Oversee the working capital of Ofcom ensuring sufficient financial resources are available to meet Ofcom’s commitments through cashflow forecasting and related governance activity
• Responsible for the treasury function and activity and related treasury policy
• Manage the relationship with Ofcom’s bankers
• Ensure the Finance Operations team (Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash management and colleague expense management) deliver their services in a controlled and efficient manner in accordance with objectives, policies and agreed metrics.
• Ensure the Ofcom payroll process is delivered in a timely and accurate manner together with related payments and support where necessary with our outsourced service arrangements
• Liaise with the Pension Manager and Trustees to provide information to support the two (closed to future accrual) defined benefit pension plans

Financial Control and Governance

• Maintain an effective system of internal financial controls including the Financial Authorities Framework as part of the corporate governance framework, managing changes through the Ofcom governance process including approval by the Ofcom Board
• Attendance at the Risk & Audit Committee and preparation of reports to support the agenda
• Ensure the monthly Financial Controls reporting pack is delivered each month and develop the report where necessary
• Represent Finance at the Security Committee
• Oversee the delivery of the internal audit plan and related reporting

Taxation

• Provision of technical advice on all Taxation matters including VAT, PAYE, and Corporation Tax and ensure all compliance and returns etc are completed as required.

Transformation, Finance Systems & Reporting

• Responsible for the oversight of the Finance aspect of the People and Finance system, including change control, development and reporting.
• Oversee the strategic development and implementation of portfolio of transformation across our financial systems.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience 

• Substantial Financial Controller and Senior Management experience of leading a large multi- functional team
• Technical knowledge of IFRS accounting standards and their application and tax matters
• Audit experience
• Demonstrable experience in reviewing processes and in implementing financial controls
• Substantial experience of driving transformational change within systems based programme
• Able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Experience in demonstrating leadership, influencing and collaboration in a multi discipline environment
• Ability to build key relationships and engage effectively at all levels across the organisation
• Agile problem solver – able to identify, develop and deliver well thought out solutions to sometimes complex problems.  Flexible in approach to issues and has a ‘can do’ attitude
• Senior relationship management - able to build collaborative relationships at all levels across an organisation and experience of engaging with Board members
• Analytical and attention to detail – constantly strives to deliver to the highest quality

Qualifications 

Qualified accountant with substantial years post qualification experience at a senior level