Financial Controller

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking a Financial Controller to provide senior technical leadership for Financial Accounts at the CMA, ensuring robust statutory reporting, compliance with accounting standards, and effective financial controls.

We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. Our work is wide ranging, ambitious and often new and challenging.

It is a fascinating time to be at the heart of competition and consumer protection as our lives become increasingly digital and society grapples with the unique power of large technology firms.

We are fully committed to being a flexible, respectful, and inclusive employer. It is a priority to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we welcome applications from under-represented groups.

This role owns delivery of the Resource Accounts & Trust Statement, manages the relationship with the National Audit Office (NAO) on financial audit, and provides authoritative assurance to the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) and the Board on complex accounting matters including digital markets competition regime levy (SMS Levy), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 16, asset revaluations and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) disclosures.

Working collaboratively with the Assistant Finance Director (Strategic Finance) and other Grade 6 leaders, the Financial Controller supports the Director of Finance, Risk, and Business Reporting by ensuring that financial accounting is integrated with business reporting, risk management and performance frameworks to support evidence‑based decision making. The role contributes to embedding financial accountability across the CMA, supporting the business partnering approach by ensuring robust financial controls and statutory reporting underpin the finance function's strategic advisory role.

This role can be based in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, or Manchester.

You will have deep expertise with the ability to provide clear, authoritative advice to accounting officers and senior governance forums, with experience of leading the production of statutory accounts in a large and complex organisation in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards, including direct ownership of the audit process through to clearance and sign‑off.

You will have substantial experience communicating and working at a senior level providing financial assurance to Audit and Risk Assurance Committees and Accounting Officers, alongside significant experience leading and developing finance professionals, with accountability for transactional finance operations and delivery of system or process improvements that strengthen financial control and governance.

In return the CMA is a hugely diverse, rewarding and stimulating place to work - an opportunity to work for the public good and to stretch and develop yourself in doing so. We offer generous benefits, including an excellent pension scheme, at least 25 days leave (increasing to 30 over five years), and generous maternity/paternity leave provision. You can also take advantage of interest‑free season ticket loans, a cycle to work scheme, our employee assistance programme and flexible working options.

Closing date: 31 January 2026.