How to land your first Financial Controller role

Malcolm Finn, Group Financial Controller, Octopus Energy
Before training as an accountant, Malcolm completed a degree in Natural Sciences and obtained a D.Phil in Chemistry. After qualifying with Deloitte, he later moving to EY advising CFOs and the senior finance leadership of listed multi-national organisations. Malcolm has held senior finance roles in Costa Coffee, Vodafone plc, Johnson Matthey plc and Octopus Energy with a particular emphasis on digital transformation and enhancing talent experience.

Jennifer Moffat, Financial Controller, Boots & No.7 Beauty Company
After studying Architecture at university, Jennifer qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Grant Thornton gaining experience across Audit and then Business Risk Services, supporting international US-listed businesses with IA and SOX compliance. Following her move into industry, Jennifer has held senior Finance roles in the retail and B2B sectors in international Group roles at RR Donnelley, and as Financial Controller at Selfridges and Boots. Having led large and diverse teams, Jennifer is passionate about people with a focus on leading and developing high-performing teams where individuals are supported to thrive and develop their own successful careers.

Kate Legrand, Financial Controller, Buro Happold
At Buro Happold, a global engineering consultancy, Kate leads a UK‑wide finance team supporting complex, project‑based work across the built environment. Her responsibilities include financial governance, commercial oversight and business partnering across the organisation. A qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant, Kate is particularly interested in how finance professionals build credibility beyond technical ability, through clear communication, commercial understanding and effective stakeholder engagement.