Country Accounting & Finance Director - UKI in London

Country Accounting & Finance Director - UKI in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
American President Lines

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the UK & Ireland accounting function and drive financial governance.
  • Company: Join CEVA Logistics, a dynamic and inclusive company focused on growth.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, private medical, and fantastic holiday buy scheme.
  • Other info: Be part of a culture that values recognition and personal development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-stakes role with career progression opportunities.
  • Qualifications: ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with senior accounting leadership experience.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.

We’re looking for an experienced Country Accounting & Finance Director to lead our UK & Ireland accounting function, partnering with senior leaders to deliver strong financial governance, exceptional reporting standards and world‑class transactional performance. This high impact role is at the heart of our UK & Ireland finance team and is perfect for someone who thrives in a dynamic, evolving environment and wants to influence financial outcomes at both local and regional levels.

What are you going to do?

Reporting into the Regional Finance Director, you will be responsible for the full accounting perimeter across the UK and Ireland. You will lead all aspects of accounting governance, ensuring compliant accounting and reporting, maintaining robust internal controls, overseeing statutory, tax and regulatory compliance, and optimising accounting systems, processes and reporting standards.

You will maximise transactional accounting performance, driving improvement across AR, AP and RTR, reducing net working capital with effective cash management, strengthening relationships with shared services centres and identifying and delivering opportunities for cost optimisation and process efficiencies. You will deliver high quality financial insights, ensuring financial information is prepared to a consistently high standard, provide clear, timely and meaningful financial analysis to senior stakeholders and support business controlling and product teams to drive stronger business decisions.

You will drive continuous improvement and transformation, championing digitalisation, process standardisation and system optimisation, supporting integration projects, new entity set‑up and major regional activities, and collaborating across Finance, Treasury, FP&A and Business Controlling to ensure alignment.

This role will see you developing and leading a highly performing team, coaching and growing a team of 8 direct reports and about 50 indirect heads across the accounting finance team, building capability, driving engagement, development and career progression.

What are we looking for?

  • ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
  • Significant experience in a senior accounting leadership role
  • Previous experience in a fast‑paced, multi‑matrixed, logistics environment would be desirable
  • Comprehensive expertise across AR, AP, RTR, Tax and Financial Control
  • Strong IFRS and GAAP knowledge
  • Exceptional communicator, able to shift comfortably from operational detail to executive level insight
  • Rigorous, reliable, process‑driven and improvement‑focused
  • Experience of using financial systems such as JD Edwards, SAP, OneStream and Medius would be beneficial, however not essential

This amazing role comes with a competitive salary, company car or car allowance, bonus, private medical and so much more.

What do we have to offer?

With a genuine culture of reward and recognition, we want our employees to grow, develop and be part of our journey. We offer a benefits package that includes competitive annual leave entitlement with a fantastic holiday buy scheme, pension and life assurance along with access to an employee benefits platform that offers discounts on gym memberships and money‑off vouchers for a diverse range of retail, travel and hospitality brands.

About Tomorrow

We value your professional and personal growth. That’s why we share plenty of career opportunities for you to thrive within CEVA. Join CEVA for a challenging career.

CEVA Logistics UK&I is committed to attracting, acquiring and retaining the best possible candidates in an equal and inclusive way that is consistent with employment legislation and best practice. We aim to select the best available person for every vacancy irrespective of age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, political beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and marital or civil partnership status. Please note that candidates will be subject to the necessary right to work checks for the UK and Ireland.

Country Accounting & Finance Director - UKI in London employer: American President Lines

At CEVA Logistics, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of growth and recognition. As the Country Accounting & Finance Director for the UK & Ireland, you will not only lead a dynamic team but also enjoy a competitive benefits package, including a company car or allowance, private medical insurance, and access to exclusive discounts. Our commitment to employee development and a supportive work environment makes CEVA an ideal place for those seeking a meaningful and rewarding career in finance.

American President Lines

Contact Detail:

American President Lines Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Country Accounting & Finance Director - UKI in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who work at CEVA or similar companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your financial governance knowledge. Be ready to discuss how you’ve improved accounting processes in past roles. We want to see your passion for driving performance!

Tip Number 3

Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples where you’ve developed teams or led projects. We love candidates who can inspire and grow others, so don’t hold back on sharing your success stories.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at CEVA. Let’s make it happen!

We think you need these skills to ace Country Accounting & Finance Director - UKI in London

Accounting Governance
Financial Reporting
Internal Controls
Statutory Compliance
Tax Compliance
Regulatory Compliance
Cash Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Country Accounting & Finance Director. Highlight your experience in accounting governance, financial reporting, and team leadership. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this dynamic role. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvements in financial processes or led successful teams in the past.

Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Quantify your successes where possible, like reducing working capital or improving reporting standards. We love numbers that tell a story!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a seamless application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!

How to prepare for a job interview at American President Lines

Know Your Numbers

As a Country Accounting & Finance Director, you’ll need to demonstrate your expertise in financial governance and reporting. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've improved AR, AP, and RTR processes in previous roles.

Showcase Leadership Skills

This role involves leading a team, so be prepared to share examples of how you've developed and motivated teams in the past. Highlight your coaching style and any successful initiatives you've implemented to drive engagement and performance.

Understand the Business Landscape

Familiarise yourself with the logistics environment and the specific challenges it faces. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the dynamic nature of the industry and how you can contribute to continuous improvement and transformation.

Communicate Effectively

Exceptional communication is key for this position. Practice articulating complex financial concepts in a clear and concise manner. Prepare to shift from operational details to high-level insights, as you’ll need to engage with both finance teams and senior stakeholders.