Head of Financial Control

About the Role

At NPL, we set the standards by which the world is measured. Our work underpins solutions to global challenges — from tackling climate change and advancing medical breakthroughs to enabling next-generation communications technology.

Our Finance team plays a critical role in shaping NPL’s success. By partnering across the organisation, we create a clear strategy and vision, monitor performance, and provide insights that drive informed decisions and sustainable growth.

As our Financial Controller, you’ll be a senior leader within Finance, overseeing Management Accounting, Financial Operations (AP/AR), Financial Accounting, and Tax & Compliance. You’ll ensure robust financial governance, accurate reporting, and strong controls that support NPL’s mission and long-term objectives.

What you’ll be Doing:

• Inspiring Leadership : Lead and motivate a large team to ensuring clarity, engagement, and high performance.
• Driving Financial Excellence : Oversee strong financial governance and risk management, optimise ERP systems, and embed efficient processes.
• Accurate management and financial reporting of business performance
• Financial Policies : Develop new and manage existing financial policies
• Managing the audit process
• Ensuring Operational Standards : Maintain compliance with quality, health, safety, and environmental requirements while promoting continuous improvement.
• Building Strategic Relationships : Act as a trusted ambassador for NPL, strengthening partnerships and ensuring transparent, accurate financial reporting.
• Collaborating Across Leadership : Work closely with senior colleagues to create a unified organisation and provide actionable financial insights.

Please note, this role is known as 'Financial Controller' internally.

About You

You’ll bring a blend of technical expertise, leadership, and strategic thinking.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Bring their financial expertise as a fully Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with significant PQE experience
• Previous experience as a Financial Controller
• Demonstrate strong technical accounting skills
• Managed, coached and developing large teams
• Continuously looking to improve processes, controls and efficiencies
• Collaborative and team-oriented working style
• Bring their e xperience of embedding and exploiting the introduction of new ERP systems
• Bring their e xperience of working in a complex, project-based organisation would be desirable but not essential
• Strong interpersonal skills

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.

About Us

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview