Financial Controller

About Us

Six Nations Rugby is the official organising body of the annual men's, women's and U20s Six Nations Championships and the Autumn Nations Series. Working in partnership with its member unions and federations in England (RFU), France (FFR), Ireland (IRFU), Italy (FIR), Scotland (SRU) and Wales (WRU), Six Nations Rugby has responsibility for the commercialisation of centralised commercial rights, and the promotion and operation of the renowned Six Nations Championships and Autumn Nations Series.

The Six Nations Championship is the oldest international rugby tournament in the world, dating back to its original incarnation in 1883 and expanding to its current format of six teams in 2000. It consists of three highly competitive annual tournaments across men's, women's and U20s rugby. The media rights and certain commercial rights of the Autumn Nations Series have recently been centralised, with Six Nations Rugby now supporting the growth and development of these matches for all six unions.

About the role

Six Nations Rugby is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Financial Controller to join our Finance team at an exciting period of growth and transformation for the organisation and the sport.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading all aspects of financial control & reporting, management reporting and compliance across multiple entities and jurisdictions and supporting budgeting and forecasting. Working closely with the CFO and Head of Commercial Finance and Strategy, this role will ensure the organisation maintains robust financial governance and delivers clear, timely insights that support strategic decision-making.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to a globally recognised sporting organisation, supporting the continued success of our Championships and strategic ambitions.

This is a particularly exciting time to join with the launch of the Nations Championship in 2026 and be part of the most transformational shift in global rugby since professionalisation.

Financial Control and Reporting

• Lead all financial control, management accounting, and statutory reporting activities across UK and Irish entities.
• Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual management accounts, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with accounting standards.
• Maintain and enhance robust financial systems, controls, and reporting processes.
• Ensure compliance with all governance, tax, audit, and risk management requirements.
• Manage year-end audit processes, liaising with external auditors and advisors.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Support the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting process, working closely with business leads across departments.
• Provide clear and actionable financial insights to support decision-making and long-term strategic planning.
• Support scenario modelling and long-term financial projections for strategic initiatives.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Implement and uphold financial governance frameworks, including Delegation of Authority and expense policies.
• Oversee compliance with tax, legal, and audit requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
• Manage company secretarial filings with the support of in-house and external legal advisors.

Business Partnering and Strategic Support

• Act as a trusted advisor to departmental heads, providing financial analysis, performance tracking, and recommendations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Commercial, HR, Legal, Operations, and Communications teams to deliver organisation-wide objectives.
• Prepare and present reports to senior management, Board members, and investors.

People Leadership and Development

• Manage and develop a small finance team, fostering a collaborative, efficient, and high-performing environment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes and reduce reporting timeframes.

Other Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll processes for UK and Irish entities in coordination with third-party providers.
• Manage global cashflows, reporting across multiple currencies and managing associated FX risk.
• Support HR and legal functions on compliance, contract, and governance matters.
• Lead finance-related elements of strategic projects, including investment transactions, systems implementations, and commercial partnerships.

The Candidate We Are Looking For

We are seeking a qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with a strong technical background and a passion for driving operational excellence through financial leadership. Excellent executive stakeholder management skills will be necessary as the role requires engaging regularly with C-Suite executives at Six Nations Rugby, our 6 Unions and Federations, CVC and other senior rugby stakeholders.

Essential Experience and Skills:

• Chartered Accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with 10+ years' post-qualification experience.
• Proven experience in financial control, management reporting, and audit management within complex, multi-entity organisations.
• Strong understanding of FRS 102 and regulatory compliance in both the UK and Ireland.
• Demonstrated experience leading budgeting, forecasting, and business planning cycles.
• Proven ability to manage and develop teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to present financial insights clearly to non-financial audiences.
• Experience managing relationships with auditors, tax advisors, and external stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel and financial systems skills (experience with Microsoft Dynamics an advantage).

Desirable:

• Experience in the sports, media, or entertainment industry.
• Exposure to private equity structures or investment reporting.
• Experience working for/with joint ventures/private equity portfolio companies highly valued.
• Familiarity with governance and risk management frameworks.
• French/Italian highly valued but not essential.

Personal Attributes

• Diligent, detail-oriented, and methodical in approach.
• Proactive and adaptable, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong collaborator who thrives in a team-oriented environment.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities under pressure.
• Integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to Six Nations Rugby's values and mission.

Why Join Six Nations Rugby

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the most prestigious brands in global sport. You'll join a passionate and high-performing team that values excellence, collaboration, and innovation; helping shape the financial future of an organisation at the forefront of rugby's global growth