Financial Controller

Ontic is a leading provider of extended life solutions for the aerospace industry, helping to keep established aircraft flying safely and reliably for longer.

At our 64,000 sq ft Bishops Cleeve facility in Cheltenham, our teams deliver predominantly electronic and electro-mechanical product lines, specialising in fuel measurement systems, emergency oxygen systems, barometrics and complex electro-mechanical assemblies.

As Ontic continues to grow, so does the importance of having strong financial foundations behind our operations. We’re looking for an ambitious Financial Controller to lead the financial accounting and control activities for our Bishops Cleeve site.

This is an opportunity to take real ownership of the financial control environment, lead a high-quality month-end process and help shape how Finance operates as the business becomes larger and increasingly sophisticated.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be responsible for the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of financial reporting at Bishops Cleeve, while continually looking for opportunities to strengthen controls, simplify processes and improve the way we work.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the month-end close, ensuring an accurate and timely period close in line with finance policies, procedures and the month-end checklist.
• Reviewing, approving and posting journals and ensuring appropriate supporting evidence and controls are in place.
• Taking ownership of Balance Sheet integrity, ensuring reconciliations are robust, supported and completed to the required standard, while introducing new reconciliations as the business evolves.
• Ensuring accounting standards and internal and external controls are consistently applied throughout month-end reporting.
• Acting as the site's Controls Champion, owning and developing the financial control framework and ensuring continued adherence to established controls.
• Reviewing existing finance processes against policy, identifying gaps and implementing practical improvements.
• Helping develop a control environment capable of supporting a growing organisation, including readiness for potentially enhanced or SOX-style controls in the future.
• Leading site cash management, including forecasting operating cash performance and providing effective reporting and insight.
• Using systems, data and technology to identify efficiencies and improve the month-end close process and timetable.
• Leading the site's relationship with external auditors, coordinating the audit process, providing high-quality audit trails and ensuring queries are resolved effectively.
• Overseeing VAT and Fixed Assets activities.
• Preparing and submitting annual insurance data requirements.
• Reviewing and approving payments.
• Managing, supporting and developing a Financial Accountant.
• Working closely with colleagues across Finance, Operations and Ontic's wider global finance community, including our US teams.

What you’ll bring

You’ll combine strong technical accounting knowledge with the confidence to take ownership, challenge existing ways of working and turn ideas into practical improvements.

We’re looking for someone who has:

• A recognised professional accounting qualification, such as ACCA or CIMA.
• Strong financial accounting, reporting and control experience.
• Experience of US GAAP would be advantageous.
• Strong systems capability and advanced Excel skills.
• A continuous-improvement mindset, with an interest in using data and technology to make finance processes better.
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly and confidently to both finance and non-finance audiences.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively across different functions and levels of the organisation.
• The confidence to embrace and support change in a fast-moving, growing business.
• The ability to prioritise effectively, work under pressure and deliver against demanding deadlines.
• The leadership skills to coach and develop others while maintaining high standards of financial discipline.

Why this role matters

This is more than a role focused on producing the numbers.

You’ll have the opportunity to influence how the financial control environment develops as Ontic grows, strengthening the processes, systems and disciplines that underpin reliable decision-making.

You’ll work closely with Finance leadership, operational teams and global stakeholders, giving you broad exposure across the business and the opportunity to make a visible impact at one of Ontic’s key UK sites.

Benefits

At Ontic, we care about your financial, physical and mental wellbeing. Our benefits are designed to support what matters to you, alongside a culture built around recognition, empowerment and a healthy work/life balance.

Our benefits package includes:

• Up to 29 days’ annual leave, plus Bank Holidays
• 10 hours’ paid volunteering time
• Annual Goal Share bonus scheme for all employees
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Discounts and offers from a range of retailers

A great place to work

We believe we’re more than the sum of our parts, and that’s reflected in the feedback we receive from our people and the recognition we’ve achieved.

• Ontic was ranked #9 in Best Companies’ Q3 leaderboard for Best Manufacturing Company, based on employee feedback.
• 72.5% of employees who took part in our 2023 employee satisfaction survey said they were proud to work at Ontic.

We are a fast-paced business with ambitious growth plans; so if you are dedicated, enthusiastic and always seeking ways to improve, you'll enjoy a career with us!