Group Financial Controller

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 that 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 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‑focused and results‑oriented.
• 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.

Location & Sponsorship (UK)

• Successful candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK (or be eligible for sponsorship where applicable in a case‑by‑case basis).
• Be physically located in the UK on Day 1 of employment (or shortly before your start date).

Benefits

• Hybrid working policy with flexible collaboration in office and home.
• Employee wellbeing hub supporting mind, body, finances, community, career and HR.
• Recognition program ‘You Matter’ offering points for achievements (tax‑free).
• Single Private Medical Insurance cover, Dental insurance and an online GP service.
• 25 days annual leave plus UK bank holidays (increases with years of service).
• Pension scheme with 5% salary employer contribution.
• Life assurance: 4x annual salary; Group Income Protection: 66% salary up to 5 years if on long‑term sick.
• Enhanced parental leave policies: maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental pay.