Negotiable
OverviewFinancial Controller (Chartered Accountant)
Location: On-site (minimum 3 days/week), Milton Keynes (office opening September)
Contract Type: Permanent – 6-month probation period
Start Date: ASAP
Organisation Type: Not-for-Profit / Start-Up to FTSE 250 (Size) within 26 months
Salary: Competitive, based on experience
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The RoleWe are seeking an experienced and hands-on Financial Controller (Chartered Accountant) with a strong background in management accounting and financial operations within high-volume, fast-paced environments.
This role is critical to the success of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), managed and administrated by UK DMO Ltd. You will play a central leadership role in shaping the financial infrastructure of a growing not-for-profit organisation.
This is a unique opportunity to transition the organisation from SME to £6bn turnover within the next 26 months.
You will be responsible for setting up, managing, and safeguarding day-to-day financial operations, while also supporting external funding activities, budgeting, and strategic financial planning. The ideal candidate will be comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, with a proven ability to scale finance functions and support business growth.
Key Responsibilities and PrioritiesShort-Term Priorities
DRS Financial Model and Budget Development
Continuously update the UK DRS financial model and budgets for multiple scenarios including revenue generation and cash.
Conduct scenario analyses and model refinements to assess implications for fee structures, customer deposits, and cost recovery.
Produce clear outputs to inform strategic and operational decision-making.
Ensure transparency, traceability, and logic in all financial assumptions and methodologies
Credit Raising Preparation (Investing Members and external sources of commercial finance)
Assist in developing a full finance function to develop key finance processes.
Prepare financial information and documentation to support external funding processes.
Finance Operations and Company Setup and Filing of Documents
Develop and implement key finance processes for the DMO.
Manage day-to-day financial administration and accounting systems.
Lead the production of monthly management accounts in collaboration with PwC.
Support early budgeting, cash flow, and financial reporting tools suited to a not-for-profit environment.
Ongoing Responsibilities
Sign off on annual statutory accounts and ensure compliance with UK accounting standards.
Build and maintain robust financial controls and reporting systems.
Own the end-to-end cash flow process, including monitoring cash collection, working capital, and liquidity.
Manage banking facilities and financial risk.
Provide financial insights and reports to the CFO, Board, and external stakeholders.
Liaise with internal teams to capture financial implications of evolving workstreams.
Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Oversee PAYE and company benefits transactions, including pensions.
About You
Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
Minimum 10 years’ post-qualification experience across SMEs and large enterprises.
Proven experience in high transactional environments (e.g. retail, airlines, lottery).
Demonstrated success in scaling businesses and raising finance in the UK.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
Hands-on, proactive, and adaptable to a dynamic start-up environment.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
Strong project management skills.
Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling.
Understanding of producer responsibility schemes or regulated cost recovery systems is a strong advantage.
How to ApplyPlease submit your CV and a short statement outlining your relevant experience to:
Raymond.Gianotten@dmouk.com
About DRSDeposit Return Schemes (DRS) are a proven global solution to one of the most visible and persistent environmental issues: beverage container waste. By placing a small, refundable deposit on drinks containers, DRS incentivises consumers to return them for recycling, dramatically improving collection rates, reducing litter, and enabling the production of high-quality, food-grade recycled materials. 57 DRS schemes are currently in operation across 32 countries – including Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Australia, and several US states – with return rates often exceeding 90%. These systems are widely recognised as critical to accelerating the transition to a circular economy. They are a proven response to beverage container waste – which makes up around 40% of visible litter.
Advantages of DRS Compared to kerbside collection:
Recycling rates jump from -70% to over 90%
Carbon savings of over 46 million tonnes CO2e expected in the UK by 2035
Litter reduction, energy savings, and creation of food-grade recycled materials
Incentives and impact
DRS delivers results that benefit industry, environment, and society:
Aligns with ESG and circular economy goals
Unlocks access to high-quality recycled materials
Enhances consumer trust and participation
Establishes a scalable infrastructure for sustainable waste recovery
About usThe Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) is the newly appointed entity responsible for overseeing the operation of a DRS. The DMO manages the logistics of collecting and sorting the returned containers and financial operations, such as collecting and reimbursing deposits.
The DMO is a not-for-profit, industry-led body made up of drinks producers, retailers, and the wider supply chain with the mandate to design, deliver and operate the DRS across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The DMO will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of the scheme: managing logistics, financial flows, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance to ensure high return rates and system efficiency. It will also serve as the central interface between government, industry and the public – building trust and transparency while ensuring the environmental and economic goals of the scheme are met.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to:
build a national system from the ground up
deliver lasting environmental value
shape a model of collaboration between government, industry and consumers
lead a scheme that could process billions of items and generate £5B+ annually.
The UK DRS is scheduled to launch in October 2027 across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, covering PET plastic bottles and steel/aluminium cans (excluding glass), with containers sized between 150ml and 3 litres included in scope. The UK DRS will significantly impact beverage producers and retailers – requiring producer registration, new product labelling, and payment of fees, while retailers must operate return points unless exempt and register with the DMO.
Operating initially as a hands-on start-up, the DMO will scale from an implementation oriented project organisation into a full operational entity over the next two years. We are building the team that will make this possible — starting with a strong foundation in people, culture, and organisational ..... full job details .....
Negotiable