Head of Financial Reporting

FWB are currently working with our leading, highly acquisitive technology and business services client to recruit a new Head of Financial Reporting to report directly to the CFO and play an integral part of the senior finance leadership team. The Head of Financial Reporting will be responsible for overseeing all financial reporting, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements as well as managing group financial controls. This role is critical to maintaining accurate financial records and providing key insights to support the Executive Leadership Team and strategic decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and review of accurate and timely statutory financial statements including all primary statements and related disclosures.
• Co-ordinate the month end, half year and year end close process.
• Produce monthly reporting for senior leadership including finance board pack and executive pack and key performance indicators (KPI) reports.
• Technical lead and key point of contact for technical queries across the Group.
• Lead projects to implement new accounting standards and disclosure requirements.
• Provide adhoc financial analysis to Senior Leadership to support strategic decision making.
• Support M&A activity as required and support the integration of newly acquired entities into the financial reporting function.
• Drive corporate simplification of Group including transfer of trades and strike offs.
• Manage cash flow forecasting and working capital to ensure the business operates efficiently working closely with Group Finance.

External Audit

• Lead and oversee the external audit process at half year and year end and be the key point of contact for external auditors to ensure a smooth audit process.
• Lead the production of the full Annual Report and Financial Statements and half year RNS including preparation of the Glossy accounts and overseeing the AGM process.
• Liaise directly with the Audit Committee Chair and manage the Audit Committee process.
• Responsible for the Group impairment review and going concern review for submission to the auditors.

Internal Audit

• Key point of contact for the outsourced internal audit function overseeing the internal audit plan and delivery of reporting to the Audit Committee.

Governance

• Oversee adherence to corporate governance requirements and a strong internal control environment driving continuous improvement to support a listed company environment.
• Maintain and develop relationships with external advisors.
• Work closely with Company Secretary to ensure compliance with regulatory reporting requirements.
• Responsible for the Group’s insurance and leading the annual insurance renewal.

Banking

• Key point of contact for the Group’s banking relationship and managing the Group’s loan facility and compliance.

Technology and Financial Systems

• Oversee the VAT process and submission of quarterly VAT returns.
• Oversee the Group’s tax process including group accruals provision for Annual Report and Financial Statements, working with external advisors on the tax computation process and ensuring compliance with tax regulations and HMRC requirements.
• Oversee the Group’s outsourced payroll function including review of monthly payroll files, journals and balance sheet reconciliations.

Leadership

• Leading a team to manage the financial reporting process including monthly consolidation and related reporting, financial statements preparation, tax, VAT, payroll, and insurance.
• Provide leadership and direction to both the financial reporting team and the wider finance team to support continuous improvement of the finance function as well as the learning, development and coaching of the team.
• Support the Board and Senior Leadership team to deliver the Group’s vision and objectives.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Must possess a strong combination of technical expertise, leadership skills and strategic thinking to ensure accurate and compliant financial reporting.
• In-depth understanding of IFRS.
• Experience of IFRS 16 ‘Leases’, IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ and IFRS 2 ‘Share based Payments’ helpful.
• Knowledge of financial regulations, tax laws and statutory reporting requirements.