Head of Financial Control - Places for London

Head of Financial Control for Places for London

Reporting into – CFO for Places for London

Contract – Permanent

Band – 5

Location - Victoria Station House, London

About Us

Welcome to Places for London, TfL’s property company, where your career can make a meaningful impact on the landscape of a global city. As an integral part of the London community, we are building thousands of new and sustainable homes over the next 10 years across the capital.

We are one of London’s largest landlords, providing flexible and accessible workspaces for 1,500 customers, over 90 per cent of which are small businesses.

Our mission is about crafting environments that inspire and connect people. From residential developments that redefine modern living to commercial spaces that drive economic vitality, we are at the forefront of urban development and reimagining what is possible. We prioritise innovation, sustainability and community engagement whilst fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment. If you have the ambition to be part of a property company with significant impact, please join us as our new Head of Financial Control.

About the Role

The Head of Financial Control will provide strategic leadership and operational resilience across all aspects of financial reporting, control, assurance, risk management, and audit management. Operating in alignment with the broader TfL Group and its strategic objectives, the role will be instrumental in supporting the delivery of Places objectives—encompassing housing development, long-term growth, and transport investment.

This position holds accountability for the delivery of external financial reporting, including statutory accounts, VAT and tax analysis, and viability assessments such as going concern evaluations. These responsibilities are particularly critical given Places for London’s independent financial status and its non-recourse relationship with its parent entity.

The role also encompasses full ownership of statutory accounts for TTLP and its joint venture entities, alongside oversight of tax and VAT compliance. The postholder will lead the enhancement of internal control frameworks, including the optimisation of SAP structures to ensure robust financial data and reporting—covering revenue collection, Procure-to-Pay processes, approval hierarchies, and balance sheet provisions. Collaboration with Group Financial Reporting and the Shared Service Centre will be essential.

The Head of Financial Control will develop and maintain comprehensive Finance Regulations, setting clear standards for transaction accounting and embedding assurance processes with defined review frequencies. These outputs will feed into a periodic balance sheet review process, which the role will design and lead.

Driving the benefits of Finance Transformation programmes, the role will deliver focused outcomes that leverage system investments, standardise and simplify processes, and enhance the adaptability and resilience of the Finance function.

Finally, the role will lead and develop a high-performing team of finance professionals, providing subject matter expertise across technical accounting (particularly property and tax), external audit management, valuation accounting, and financial control best practices. The postholder will also own the going concern and cashflow forecasting processes, ensuring alignment with statutory reporting and audit requirements.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring solid gold leadership as well as being fluent in operating at a strategic level within large, multi-service organisations, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape financial strategy. Experience within property development and asset management environments is very highly desirable.

The role requires the ability to provide clear, insightful financial information and assurance to the CFO, Places Directors, Heads of Finance, and Finance Business Partners, supporting divisional performance and strategic initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising senior leadership teams on complex strategic and financial matters.
• Managing a team of finance professionals, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Oversight of a balance sheet exceeding £2bn and annual income of £100m+.
• Leading financial accounting, reporting, and annual audit processes to ensure timely sign-off and cost efficiency.
• Preparing going concern analyses and managing statutory reporting and external audit cycles.
• Driving core financial controls, assurance frameworks, and compliance with statutory requirements.

Essential Qualifications and Expertise’s:

• ACA qualified, ideally having trained in a major audit practice.
• Expert knowledge of accounting standards, financial compliance, and statutory reporting.
• Expert in Data Room creation
• Proficiency in financial systems and the ability to leverage technology for efficient, accurate reporting.
• Understanding of how finance functions operate effectively in large, complex organisations.

Desirable Qualifications and Expertise’s:

• Strong understanding of property valuation processes and audit requirements.
• Deep knowledge of change management, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Awareness of key risks associated with independently financed operations and external stakeholder reporting.

How to apply

Please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (no more than 2 pages, Arial 12) along with a cover letter (no more than 1 A4 page Arial size 12). 

We recommend that you consider the motivations, skills, knowledge and experience required for this role and ensure your application outlines where you meet these criteria.

Closing date for applications will be Sunday 4th January 2026 (23:59).

Interviews are likely to be held towards the end of January 2026 and early February 2026.

For a more detailed copy of the job description, please contact Jay Patel (jaypatel@tfl.gov.uk) or the Executive Recruitment Team on talentacquisitionandexecutiverecruitment@tfl.gov.uk

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

Hybrid Working (for eligible roles only)

Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.

NPL Applications:
Applications to internally advertised roles can only be accepted from temporary workers who are on PAYE terms via agency, or PAYE via Umbrella Companies. Temporary workers who are paid through their own limited companies are not covered by the Agency Worker Regulations and are ineligible to apply.

NPL members of staff are not eligible to apply to secondment opportunities.

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/ assessments could be organised at short notice.

Additional Information – Eligibility

Probation:

In line with our Resourcing Policy (Feb 2014), internal employees are required to complete their probationary period before applying for internal TfL positions. Please ensure you have successfully completed your probation before submitting an application for this role, otherwise your application may be withdrawn.

Formal Warnings:

Internal employees with any current formal warnings are not eligible to apply for internal TfL vacancies until expiry of the warning. Ineligible applications may be withdrawn. Details of what is defined as a current formal warning can be found on Platform: https://transportforlondon.sharepoint.com/sites/Instructions-and-guidance-people-performance-and-rewards/SitePages/Applying-for-a-vacancy-with-a-formal-warning.aspx