Who we are
VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.
What we do
We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.
Location: Home based, West Midlands. Regualr travel to Birmingham office as well as other locations across England as and when required.
Full time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive + Company Car/Car Allowance + Benefits
Financial Controller - Strategic Leadership of Financial Governance and Controls in a High-Growth FM Business
VIVO Defence Services is seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Financial Controller to lead the integrity and compliance of all financial control activities across its expanding £800m+ operation. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining robust financial governance, overseeing statutory reporting, managing treasury functions, and ensuring adherence to IFRS across a high-profile joint venture organisation.
The Role
In this leadership position, you will oversee the Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) team and manage the operational relationship with Accenture, our offshore service provider for transactional finance, payments, and cashflow processes. You'll be responsible for delivering accurate statutory accounts, managing audits, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements across Companies House, HMRC, and other governing bodies.
Your remit includes managing VIVO's tax affairs (Corporation Tax, CIS, VAT), driving compliance, and optimising efficiency in financial operations. You will also be accountable for treasury management, including cashflow forecasting, banking relationships, supplier payment oversight, and managing loan and credit facilities. Maintaining a compliant and auditable fixed asset register will be critical, ensuring proper governance on capital investments and consistent depreciation policies.
As the custodian of the balance sheet, you'll ensure accuracy, transparency, and timely resolution of anomalies. You'll collaborate with Finance Business Partners to uphold a culture of control, delivering consistency and best practice in financial operations. Key responsibilities include applying accounting judgments to business developments and major bids, producing technical papers to support audit readiness, and reinforcing compliance with IFRS throughout the organisation.
You will also provide critical support in the treatment of mobilisation costs, capitalisation policies, and ensure declared monthly results reconcile with ledger data. Your role will involve producing audit-ready documentation and ensuring monthly and year-end closings meet regulatory and shareholder expectations.
Essential qualifications and experience:
Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
Deep technical expertise in IFRS accounting and statutory financial reporting.
Demonstrated ability to influence and challenge across a diverse business.
Experience leading audits, managing treasury and tax compliance, and supporting strategic business decisions with financial insights.
Strong systems experience - familiarity with SAP preferred, and advanced Excel skills essential.
Solid understanding of P2P processes and controls, with a mindset for continuous improvement.
Track record of managing or motivating remote teams and third-party providers.
This is a high-visibility role offering frequent engagement with senior leaders and strategic exposure across the business. You will have the opportunity to shape financial operations in a rapidly scaling company, with contracts secured well into 2029 and further growth on the horizon.
The role offers flexibility in location, with a combination of home working and UK travel as required to support business needs, internal teams, and stakeholders. Agility and responsiveness will be key to success in this role, particularly during busy reporting cycles and change initiatives.
If you are a confident, technically strong finance leader who enjoys solving complex challenges, driving compliance, and working at the heart of a purpose-led organisation, this is a compelling opportunity to shape the future of VIVO's financial operations.
What We Offer
VIVO Defence Services
The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.
At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.
We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.
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