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- Tasks: Lead financial governance across multiple European entities and ensure accurate financial reporting.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading shared services organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days paid holiday, private medical insurance, and a competitive pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in financial leadership and drive process improvements across Europe.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with strong controllership and technical accounting knowledge.
- Other info: Opportunity to develop a high-performing team and enhance your career in finance.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Benefits:
- 25 days Paid holidays
- Salary Exchange
- Pension scheme
- Non Contributory Life Assurance
- Private Medical Insurance
- Group Income protection
Reporting to the Director of European Shared Services, you will take full ownership of the controllership agenda across multiple European entities:
Controllership & Financial Leadership- Act as the European controllership lead for R2R, ensuring strong governance, consistency and best practice
- Take accountability for the integrity, accuracy and completeness of financial records
- Own balance sheet governance, including reconciliations, reviews, risk identification and issue resolution
- Oversee accruals, provisions, estimates, ensuring robust documentation and review
- Ensure alignment between management, statutory and tax reporting
- Lead the end-to-end close process (month, quarter, year-end), ensuring deadlines are met with high quality output
- Manage day-to-day operations within the Controllership team, setting priorities and resolving escalations
- Review journals, reconciliations and reporting packs, ensuring a 'first-time right' approach
- Drive consistency and discipline across multiple entities and reporting lines
- Deliver insightful monthly reporting, variance analysis and performance commentary
- Own the relationship with external auditors, leading audit planning, execution and issue resolution
- Ensure ongoing SOX compliance and a robust internal control environment
- Drive a culture of continuous audit readiness and proactive risk management
- Strengthen and embed financial controls across all processes
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team (c.10-15 FTE), both direct and indirect
- Set clear objectives, KPIs and service levels across the function
- Upskill the team from transactional processing to true financial control and analysis
- Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and service excellence
- Drive the standardisation and optimisation of processes across Europe
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce close cycle time and enhance reporting quality
- Champion automation and better use of systems (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream)
- Play a key role in ongoing finance transformation and system enhancement initiatives
- Act as a key interface between Shared Services, local finance teams and Group Finance
- Partner with operational and finance stakeholders to improve reporting and support decision-making
- Translate complex accounting issues into clear, actionable insights
- Promote the SSC as a value-adding, customer-focused finance function
The successful Financial Controller - Shared Services will have:
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
- Strong controllership background with ownership of financial reporting and close processes
- Experience in a complex, multi-entity, international environment
- Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS / US GAAP) and controls (SOX preferred)
- Hands-on leader, comfortable operating both strategically and at detail level
- Proven track record of process improvement, transformation and team development
- Strong systems experience (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream or similar preferred)
Howett Thorpe are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role and comply with all relevant UK legislation and do not discriminate on any protected characteristics.
Financial Controller - Shared Services in Grove employer: Howett Thorpe
Contact Detail:
Howett Thorpe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Controller - Shared Services in Grove
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work in shared services. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Make sure you can confidently discuss IFRS, US GAAP, and SOX compliance. We want you to shine when they ask about your experience with financial reporting and controls!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've developed teams and driven process improvements. We know that being hands-on is key, so highlight your ability to operate at both strategic and detail levels.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Controller - Shared Services in Grove
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Financial Controller role. Highlight your controllership background and any experience in multi-entity environments to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the role, focusing on your leadership experience and process improvement skills. Keep it engaging and relevant!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your technical accounting knowledge, especially if you have experience with IFRS or US GAAP. If you've worked with systems like SAP S/4HANA or OneStream, make sure to highlight that too!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Howett Thorpe
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Financial Controller, you'll need to demonstrate your strong technical accounting knowledge. Brush up on IFRS and US GAAP standards, and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in previous roles. Prepare examples of how you've ensured the integrity and accuracy of financial records.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves leading a team, so be prepared to talk about your leadership style. Think of specific instances where you've coached or developed team members. Highlight how you set objectives and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
✨Be Ready for Process Improvement Discussions
The company is looking for someone who can drive standardisation and optimisation of processes. Come equipped with examples of past process improvements you've implemented. Discuss how you identified inefficiencies and the impact your changes had on the overall operation.
✨Understand Stakeholder Engagement
You'll be acting as a key interface between various teams, so it's crucial to show your ability to partner with stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've translated complex accounting issues into actionable insights for non-financial colleagues, and how you've promoted finance as a value-adding function.