At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations and ensure accurate financial reporting across the organisation.
- Company: Aberdeen plc, a leading investment company focused on making a positive impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy 40 days annual leave, generous pension contributions, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and supports personal development.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team driving innovation in finance with opportunities for growth and development.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with experience in finance operations and leadership.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
About Aberdeen
Aberdeen plc is one of Europe’s largest investment companies, built on a long-standing culture of caring about the future and making a positive impact. Together we invest for a better future to make a difference to the lives of our clients and customers, our employees, society, and our shareholders.
About the Department
Finance Operations is a core part of Aberdeen’s Finance function, delivering services across Record to Report, Billing, Banking, Accounts Payable and Supplier Relationship Management. Within Group Financial Control, the Record to Report team is responsible for managing General Ledger operations, balance sheet control, reconciliations and the delivery of month-end, quarter-end and year-end close activities across the Group.
About the Role
This is a senior Finance Operations leadership opportunity within the Record-to-Report (R2R) function, responsible for leading the organisation's General Ledger operations and financial control environment. As head of a large-scale operational finance function, you will be accountable for the delivery of core finance processes including ledger integrity, reconciliations, balance sheet substantiation, controls governance and period-end close activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Record to Report function across Finance Operations, ensuring the consistent delivery of month-end, quarter-end and year-end close activities.
- Oversee General Ledger operations, ensuring the accuracy, completeness and integrity of financial data across the Group.
- Own reconciliations and Balance Sheet Substantiation processes, ensuring all balances, journals and outputs are fully supported and audit ready.
- Maintain and strengthen the operational control environment through governance, risk management and financial controls.
- Lead and develop GL Leads and the wider R2R organisation across onshore and offshore delivery teams.
- Drive process standardisation, continuous improvement, automation and AI-enabled efficiencies.
About the Candidate
Essential requirements:
- Fully qualified accountant, such as CA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
- Significant experience leading a large-scale Record to Report or Finance Operations function within a complex global organisation.
- Strong leadership experience within a shared service centre and/or outsourced delivery environment, including offshore teams.
- Deep expertise in General Ledger operations, reconciliations, balance sheet substantiation, financial controls and period-end close management.
- Proven ability to establish and maintain robust operational control environments while delivering accurate and timely financial reporting.
- Experience operating as the senior escalation point for R2R, control and financial risk matters, ideally using Oracle or a comparable ERP platform.
Preferred experience:
- Experience leading finance process standardisation, operating model transformation, automation and AI initiatives that improve efficiency, control and service delivery within Record to Report or Finance Operations environments.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you have a disability and would like to apply to one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme, please notify us by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire.
Our benefits:
There's more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported. When you join us, your reward will be one of the best around. This includes 40 days’ annual leave, a 16% employer pension contribution, a discretionary performance-based bonus (where applicable), private healthcare and a range of flexible benefits – including gym discounts, season ticket loans and access to an employee discount portal.
An inclusive way of working:
Whatever way you like to work, if you have the talent and commitment to join our team, we’d like to hear from you. At Aberdeen we’ve adopted a ‘blended working’ approach, combining the benefits of face-to-face collaboration with the flexibility of working from home.
We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment.
Head of Accounting Shared Services in Edinburgh employer: Aberdeen Group
Aberdeen plc is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With generous benefits such as 40 days of annual leave, a substantial pension contribution, and flexible working arrangements, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally in the vibrant city of Edinburgh. Join us to make a meaningful impact while investing in your future within a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to excellence.
