Head of Statutory Financial Reporting
| Company: | Imperial War Museums |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £72,500 to £75,000 a year |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | London, SE1 6HZ |
| Working pattern: | Hybrid - 2 days remote |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 9 Nov 2026 |
| Closing date: | 29 Nov 2026 |
Summary
As Head of Statutory Financial Reporting, you'll play a key leadership role within the Finance & Governance team, ensuring that IWM continues to be a trusted, accountable and financially resilient public body and charity. Working closely with senior leaders across the organisation, you'll lead financial accounting, statutory reporting, financial control and public accountability reporting. You'll partner with colleagues across Finance, Governance, Procurement and operational teams, while building strong relationships with external stakeholders. You'll help shape the future of financial reporting at IWM, driving improvements in processes, systems and controls while ensuring the organisation remains audit-ready and compliant with its statutory obligations.
What You'll Be Doing
Lead the preparation and delivery of IWM's Annual Report and Accounts, ensuring compliance with Charities SORP, Government Financial Reporting Manual requirements and relevant accounting standards.
Own the year-end close process, audit timetable and statutory reporting cycle, ensuring deadlines, responsibilities and evidence requirements are clearly defined and delivered.
Act as the primary Finance contact for the National Audit Office, external auditors and internal stakeholders throughout the audit process.
Lead IWM's financial reporting relationship with DCMS, overseeing monthly, quarterly, annual and ad hoc financial returns.
Provide expert technical accounting advice on complex issues including charity accounting, public sector reporting, grants, leases, reserves, fixed assets, heritage assets and group structures.
Maintain and strengthen IWM's financial accounting control framework, ensuring balance sheet integrity and robust reconciliation processes.
Ensure accounting records support accurate management reporting, statutory reporting, audit requirements and government reporting obligations.
Oversee VAT, corporation tax, HMRC returns, statutory returns and related compliance activities.
Provide leadership and oversight of the Financial Accounting and Purchase Ledger functions, ensuring high-quality operational delivery and strong financial controls.
Develop the capability, resilience and technical expertise of the Financial Accounting and Purchase Ledger teams through coaching, performance support and professional development.
Lead treasury, cash management, banking controls and financial governance arrangements.
Identify, assess and manage financial reporting, compliance and control risks across the organisation.
Essential requirements
We'd love to hear from you if you have: A recognised CCAB accounting qualification or equivalent, together with significant post-qualification experience in financial accounting, statutory reporting, audit or financial control. Strong technical knowledge of UK accounting and reporting frameworks, including Charities SORP, Government FreM and FRS 102. Experience leading the preparation of annual statutory accounts, consolidated financial statements, audit working papers and external audits. Experience working within government, charity, public sector, arm's-length body or similarly regulated reporting environments. A strong understanding of financial controls, balance sheet management, reconciliations, journals, audit evidence and year-end processes. Experience overseeing VAT, tax, treasury, statutory returns, HMRC compliance and banking controls. Proven leadership experience, including managing, developing and supporting technical finance teams. The ability to manage multiple priorities and high-profile deadlines across reporting, audit and operational finance activities. Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex accounting and reporting issues to both finance and non-finance audiences. Strong systems and data skills, including advanced Excel capability and experience of financial systems such as Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations or similar platforms.