Finance Controller

Sodexo France; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality services company in Edinburgh is seeking a Finance Controller to oversee financial operations at the Zoo. This role requires excellent Excel skills and experience in producing management accounts, budgets, and forecasts. You will manage month-end reporting and collaborate with onsite teams to ensure financial accuracy. This position offers competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth within a vibrant environment.

Benefits

Unlimited access to mental health support

Employee Assistance Programme

Health and wellbeing app access

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Retirement Plan membership

Cycle to Work Scheme

Flexible work environment

Qualifications

• Experience producing management accounts, budgets, and forecasts.
• Ability to travel across multiple sites as needed.
• Experience working in retail or contract catering is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver robust financial control and insight-driven reporting.
• Manage financial processes including month-end preparation and forecasting.
• Oversee accounting entries for purchase invoices and prepayments.

Skills

Excellent Excel skills

Strong variance analysis capability

Strong communication skills

Education

Part-qualified ACCA/CIMA or QBE

Tools

SAP

EProphIT

Priava

Job description

Finance Controller – Edinburgh Zoo (Heritage Portfolio Scotland)

Location - Edinburgh – Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (Edinburgh Zoo)

Reporting Line - Commercial Finance Manager

Hybrid Working – 3 days office based, 2 days WFH

Salary - Up to 35k per annum + Sodexo Benefits

Are you a commercially minded finance professional looking for an exciting role in one of Scotland’s most iconic visitor attractions? Heritage Portfolio Scotland, is seeking a highly capable Finance Controller to lead financial control, reporting, and operational finance support at Edinburgh Zoo.

This is a great opportunity to combine analytical expertise with real‑time engagement across a vibrant hospitality, retail, and events environment.

About the Role

As Finance Controller, you will play a key role in delivering a robust financial control environment and providing clear, insight‑driven reporting to support our operational food and drink team across the Zoo. Your work will ensure financial accuracy, strong governance, and commercially sound decision‑making.

You’ll oversee financial processes including month‑end preparation, forecasting, reconciliations, expenditure monitoring, and revenue controls - while building strong, collaborative relationships with onsite teams

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control & Reporting

• Ensure accurate accounting entries for purchase invoices, accruals, and prepayments in line with monthly and weekly timetables
• Support the preparation, production, and reporting of monthly financial trading results.
• Produce weekly flash forecasts with meaningful narrative and analysis.
• Maintain compliance with all finance timelines, policies, and procedures.

Operational Partnership

• Work closely with Heads of Department and onsite teams to ensure cost accuracy, highlight key revenue and cost drivers, and challenge overspends.
• Monitor expenditure using controlled PO procedures, ensuring no budget overspends.
• Spend time across Zoo venues to support key stakeholders and strengthen operational insight.

Revenue & Systems Management

• Manage E‑ProphIT processes, ensuring invoices and event revenues are traded correctly and on time.
• Work with the Sales team to ensure timely event invoicing, banking, debt collection, and accurate end‑of‑month revenue balancing via E‑ProphIT and SAP.

Month‑End & Reconciliations

• Support reconciliations including balance sheets, gift vouchers, variances, and ad‑hoc reports.
• Review journals, support new month‑end process improvements, and upload journals as required.

Forecasting & Budgeting

• Produce regular forecasts and ad‑hoc P&Ls for functions and events.
• Support annual budget setting and quarterly forecast reviews for the site and, where needed, across the HPL Scotland portfolio.

Team & Stakeholder Support

• Advise Commercial Assistants on day‑to‑day finance operations.
• Maintain strong internal and external relationships across all Zoo functions.

About You

You will thrive in this role if you bring:

• Excellent Excel skills and strong variance analysis capability.
• Experience producing management accounts, budgets, and forecasts.
• Working knowledge of SAP, EProphIT, Priava, or similar large systems (desirable).
• Experience working in retail, cash environments, or contract catering (desirable).
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Ability to travel across multiple sites as needed (mostly Edinburgh).
• Part‑qualified ACCA/CIMA or QBE.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to apply your finance expertise within a lively, guest‑focused environment while contributing to the success of one of Scotland’s most treasured visitor attractions. You’ll work alongside passionate operational teams, gain exposure to diverse revenue streams, and support the Zoo’s mission through strong financial stewardship.

What we offer

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A Death-in-Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today! Career progression for the caring profession.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.