Lotus Cars is renowned for crafting world-class, high-performance, and lightweight sports cars that are celebrated across the globe.

Lotus Cars Limited serves as the company’s manufacturing HQ in the UK, where we proudly produce iconic models such as the Emira and the all-electric Evija. As we continue to elevate our capabilities and global presence, we are seeking a Head of Accounting Controls to join our dynamic Finance team at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hethel.

Summary:

The Head of Accounting, Controls & Financial Governance is responsible for establishing and embedding a robust financial governance framework across the manufacturing organisation. This includes leading the accounting function, ensuring strong internal controls, overseeing financial compliance, and driving governance standards that protect the integrity of the company’s financial information and operational processes. The role works closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure financial risks are understood, mitigated, and governed effectively.

Financial Governance & Frameworks

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive financial governance framework covering accounting practices, financial controls, and risk management.
• Define and monitor compliance with finance policies, procedures, and standards across all sites.
• Lead governance reviews to ensure alignment with corporate, regulatory, and audit requirements.
• Ensure a proactive approach to identifying financial and operational risks, implementing mitigation and assurance plans.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Own the internal control environment, ensuring controls are designed, tested, and embedded effectively across finance and operations.
• Lead internal control assessments, remediation plans, and continuous monitoring activities.
• Act as the primary liaison for internal and external auditors, ensuring audit readiness and timely issue resolution.
• Ensure adherence to financial regulations and accounting standards (e.g., IFRS/GAAP), and maintain strong documentation and evidence for compliance.

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Oversee the integrity and accuracy of financial statements through strong governance of month-end and year-end processes.
• Ensure accounting policies are consistently applied and updated in response to regulatory and business changes.
• Provide oversight to ensure reconciliations, journal entries, and financial data are prepared and reviewed under a controlled and governed framework.

Manufacturing Financial Controls

• Establish and govern controls over inventory, standard costing, BOM accuracy, scrap, variances, and overhead absorption.
• Partner with manufacturing leadership to ensure operational processes align with financial governance expectations.
• Provide risk-based insights and challenge operational teams to strengthen control discipline.

Risk Management & Assurance

• Lead financial risk assessments across the business, including fraud risk, controls gaps, and compliance risks.
• Support the business in developing practical actions that enhance control maturity and reduce exposure.
• Implement assurance activities, including walkthroughs, control testing, and monitoring of remediation actions.

Process Improvements & Systems Governance

• Drive enhancements in finance and cross-functional processes to improve governance, efficiency, and data quality.
• Oversee governance of ERP systems from a financial controls perspective, including segregation of duties, master data integrity, and system permissions.
• Champion the use of technology and automation to strengthen compliance and reduce manual control risk.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, motivate, and develop the accounting and controls team to deliver a high-performing, governance-focused function.
• Build strong relationships with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Corporate Functions to embed financial governance across the organisation.
• Provide expert guidance to senior leaders on financial risk, governance, and compliance matters.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CPA).
• Extensive experience in financial governance, internal controls, or assurance within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of financial regulations, accounting standards, and governance frameworks (e.g., SOX, internal control standards, risk management frameworks).
• Demonstrated ability to develop, embed, and mature control environments.
• Proven leadership capability and experience managing cross-functional relationships.
• Strong ERP system knowledge, especially in control design, roles, and compliance.

Desirable

• Experience with global or multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Background in audit, risk management, or financial compliance.
• Experience implementing governance or control frameworks during ERP upgrades or transformation.

Key Competencies

• Strong governance mindset and risk awareness
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Resilient, structured, and disciplined approach to work

What we offer:

• We provide access to a Company Car scheme (ECOS)
• 25 Vacation Days + Bank Holidays
• Performance Bonus: Non-Contractual
• Future-Proof Pension
• Private Healthcare
• We work hybrid, - this role needs to be on site at least 3 days per week.

Additional Information:

• This role will be working from our Hethel plant within our flexible working policy
• Candidates must be eligible to work in UK without VISA sponsorship.

Our Company:

Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with over 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In 2022 we launched the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper-SUV, and in 2023 our fully-electric Hyper-GT, Emeya.  

As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Those of the car industry and of your own. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them. 

Hethel, Norfolk, England has been the home of Lotus for over 60 years, ever since Colin Chapman, our founder, started making championship-winning racing cars. In conjunction with production facilities in Norwich, and research facilities near Warwick, our UK sites offer a wide breadth of roles for all disciplines.

We're not just a car company; we're a diverse mix of talent from all walks of life. At Group Lotus, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential pillars of a thriving and successful organisation. Read more here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Lotus Cars.

Do you want to know what Sophisticated, Rebellious and Pioneering mean for Lotus Cars Limited? Come and take a look at our career site and join the incredible adventure: https://lotusukmanufacturing.teamtailor.com/