Group Financial Controller

About ICF
Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth.

About the team
Behind every great company is a strong corporate team. At ICF, we have one, but we’re growing and so are our needs. We’re seeking dynamic talent to help support our continually expanding organization. Our team will provide you with the support and training to enable your personal development and help attain crucial experience in a professional organisation.

About the role
Day-to-day the successful candidate will carry out wide-ranging responsibilities such as financial close, reporting & analysis, but also coordination of group audits activities and liaising frequently with internal/external stakeholders across the wider group. Key to success in this role will be an outgoing and inclusive style, working closely with a global team to deliver the required results.

Main Responsibilities

• Group Accounting & Reporting
• Management of regional country controllers and co-ordination with group accounting teams globally.
• Manage and owner of the monthly, quarterly and year end close process.
• Manage the preparation of the monthly group reporting pack, explaining key variances.
• Assisting with P&L analytical review, monthly commentaries.
• Develop and lead on initiatives to optimise the accuracy and efficiency of close processes.
• Looking at opportunities to harness AI and other means of system and process improvements.
• Present on accounting and technical matters to Corporate and regional business leadership.
• Assist and act as main point of contact between E&A, Corporate, and US statutory auditors, as appropriate.
• Ownership and production of the group cash flow statement and analysis, manage the preparation of the group "GBS" allocations model.
• Manage and develop key performance indicators and reporting tools (dashboards etc).
• Develop enhanced reporting automation, including utilising such applications and tools like: PowerBI, HFM, OneStream etc.
• Ensure the group has a strong framework of corporate governance and ensure that the requirements of internal control requirements are met, including liaison with internal and external auditors.
• Ensure compliance with local and global accounting procedures, applicable GAAP and SOX and is consistent across all regions.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of the regional accounting records and financial systems.
• Partnering with key stakeholders across the business, including Treasury, Tax, FP&A and Operations.
• Deputise for the Senior Finance Director in his absence.
• International Finance Transformation & Special Projects
• Lead role on wider finance transformation and business improvement projects.
• Co-ordinate and collaborate across finance and non-finance functional teams on the successful program delivery.
• Proactively detect, identify and explore opportunities to improve processes, procedures and financial control.
• Identify business/commercial improvements, as a rounded contributor to the management team.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and coaching to the local finance teams, where appropriate.
• Work closely with the operations as well as other key functions to achieve the finance department's objectives within the context of the broader business.
• Ad-hoc projects including leading on any potential group acquisitions and associated due diligence and integration, system changes etc.

Skills and Requirements

• Experience as a group accountant, controller or in similar environment for 7 years+
• Exposure and knowledge of accounting operations/transactions, including workflows and processes
• Degree in Accounting/Finance (or related field) and ACA/ACCA qualified with progressive experience
• Strong knowledge of GAAP topics including revenue recognition, lease accounting, foreign exchange, mergers and acquisition and consolidation.
• A good working knowledge of US and other regions, including UK, Europe and India GAAP (desirable)
• With "top tier" audit background (desirable) and who would like to take up a new challenge in a multinational group
• Experience of supporting Finance Transformation initiatives.
• Strong project management skills and enjoys solving complex problems
• Knowledge and experience of an Accounting ERP systems, and other supplementary software for group reporting, including Blackline Reconciliations, Oracle, HFM etc (desirable)
• IT proficient - the applicant should have strong MS Excel skills.
• Expertise with Power Query, Power Pivot and Power PBI would be advantageous
• Experience of working in a corporate environment, reporting to an overseas Head Office (desirable)
• Management of teams based in various locations, locally and overseas.
• Proven written and communication skills - the applicant should have the ability to communicate persuasively across a wide range of professional groups
• Speak fluent English and other language skills (desirable)

Personal Qualities

• Strong, confident and credible communication style
• A continuous improvement mind-set
• Rigorous and reliable attention to detail
• Analytically minded, deadline-focussed and results-orientated
• Able to handle a fast-moving environment and carrying out tasks under time pressure
• An outstanding leader and manager, with proven success in developing and mentoring a finance and wider support teams, in a constructive but effective manner
• Sound business ethics, including the protection of proprietary and confidential information

The benefits of joining ICF

• Single Private Medical Insurance cover with no restrictions on existing conditions.
• Dental insurance and an online GP service.
• 25 days annual leave, plus UK bank holidays (annual leave increases with years of service).
• Pension scheme with 5% of salary employer contribution
• Life assurance paying 4x annual salary and Group Income Protection paying 66% of salary for up to 5 years if you are off work on long-term sick.
• Enhanced parental leave policies, enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay.

Candidate AI Usage Policy
At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair and equitable interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodations that involve the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at candidateaccommodation@icf.com. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.