Director, Assistant Financial Controller
Job ID 13922 Date posted 23/09/2026 Date closes 04/10/2026 City SOUTHAMPTON State HAMPSHIRE Country United Kingdom Job Type Full TimeJob Description
Join us in shaping the future of holiday experiences across our P&O Cruises and Cunard ships in our Director, Assistant Financial Controller role.
At Carnival UK, we believe in the power of diversity to drive success, valuing a blend of backgrounds, experiences, and skills. If you're a finance professional with a strategic mindset and a track record of overseeing a finance department, let's talk. We're not just looking for qualifications on paper; we're searching for someone who can bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to our team.
Role Overview
Reporting to the VP, Financial Control, you’ll lead a key Financial Control function within a complex, well-established finance environment, taking ownership of a talented team of 20 colleagues, including three Senior Managers alongside a mix of commercially-focused and technical accounting experts.
As a Director, Assistant Financial Controller, you'll play a pivotal role in steering the financial direction of our company and, with a strong foundation of people, processes and financial integrity already established, you'll build on real strengths to ensure we continue to deliver unforgettable holiday happiness — inspiring your team to excel while opening a natural platform for your own future progression.
Key accountabilities include:
- Deliver and safeguard the financial integrity of Carnival UK's reported results, statutory submissions and management accounts, ensuring all reporting is in line with required GAAP treatments (US GAAP and IFRS).
- Lead the external auditor relationship and that with our Miami-based Global Accounting and Reporting Services (GARS) team, planning and managing audit deliverables for smooth, timely and accurate quarter and year-end closings.
- Drive a robust yet efficient, world-class culture of financial control, engaging assertively with the business to pre-empt issues and strengthen the governance and compliance landscape.
- Coach, empower and inspire the Financial Control team, unlocking potential and maintaining a strong performance management culture.
Job Requirements
This role demands a blend of strategic vision & technical expertise. We're looking for someone with:
- A Qualified Accountant background with Financial Controller or similar experience in a large organisation.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge, including US GAAP and IFRS.
- Knowledge of Oracle or another ERP system and sub-systems
- Experience of managing external auditors and statutory/regulatory reporting requirements (e.g. ATOL, ABTA, VAT and Sarbanes-Oxley).
- Experience of managing change and continuous improvement programmes across complex organisational structures.
About You
Your ability to think strategically, drive results with integrity, and inspire your team is what sets you apart. You're not just a finance professional; you're a visionary person who's ready to make a significant impact.
- Self-assured and self-directed – you're confident in your own judgement about what good looks like, setting your own path on what is and isn't acceptable rather than waiting for others to give you the answers.
- Pragmatic and commercial – you take a practical, commercially-minded approach, balancing robust financial control with the best commercial outcomes for the organisation.
- A confident, credible leader – you know the standard you want your team to reach and how to get there, coaching and empowering ambitious, capable colleagues while creating an environment where people do their best work.
- Resilient in complexity – you thrive in a large, diverse organisation going through significant change, engaging assertively across the business and navigating ambiguity to make things happen.
Why Join Us?
Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK05, offered as a full-time position, on a permanent basis, with an offering of hybrid work including up to two days from home.
Read our employee experience guide to learn more about life as a Carnival UK colleague here.
We're more than just a holiday company; we're a community that values work-life balance, personal growth, and wellbeing. As part of our team, you'll enjoy:
- Annual bonus
- Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
- Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
- Car Allowance
- Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
- Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
- Life Assurance
- Employee Shares Plan
- Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
- Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
- In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
- Employee-led networks
- Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal
Application Note
Due to the high volume of interest in our roles, we encourage early applications. This is your chance to contribute to a company that's setting the standard for holiday experiences. Apply today to be part of our journey to create joy and memories for our customers—and for you.
Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a Standard/ Enhanced DBS check. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and applicants will be required to disclose criminal record information that we are legally entitled to consider. We assess such information fairly and, on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the role and the relevance of the information disclosed.
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