Head of Reporting - Europe in Bury

Department: Finance

Location: Bury

Reporting To: Scott Morton – Director of Reporting & Shared Service Centre

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 16th January, 2026

Internal/External: Internal Only

About JD Group

Founded in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, JD Group has grown into a leading global omni-channel retailer in Sports Fashion, Outdoors, and Gyms. Our diverse and dedicated teams operate across a portfolio of renowned retail brands in multiple international markets. Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1996 and a proud member of the FTSE100 since 2019, JD Group continues to expand both in the UK and globally driven by a commitment to innovation, excellence, and possibility. Our vision is to become the world’s most trusted and dynamic omni-channel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds to join us in shaping this future. If you’re passionate about contributing to an inclusive, people-first, and customer-centric organisation and are motivated by continuous growth and operational excellence we’d love to hear from you.

Role Overview

As the Head of Reporting for Europe, you will be responsible for financial reporting, controls / governance and the external audits for the JD Europe businesses. This role requires excellent financial management skills, collaboration with cross-functional teams whilst ensuring sound financial decisions are made across the business. You will work closely with the UK Reporting team, Group Reporting team, Internal Controls team, Commercial Finance team and our external auditors. You will lead your own team to provide strategic insights, financial guidance, and decision support. You will have a key role in supporting and influencing the Group’s policies around financial control, risk management, and compliance. You will lead a team with their own reporting lines and play an active role in supporting your team’s continuous professional development. You will work collaboratively with the other Heads of Finance to deliver high-quality output to your stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Management: Lead and manage the JD Europe Reporting team, overseeing all aspects of financial reporting.
• Financial Reporting: Develop processes and a team structure to deliver accurate results within the group reporting deadlines.
• Controls & Governance: Play a key role in implementing the Group ICFR programme and developing operational controls on a timely basis.
• Balance Sheet Reconciliation: Review current processes and implement plans to improve the Balance Sheet reconciliation process in line with the Group ICFR requirements.
• Audit: Work closely with the external audit teams to ensure that the audits are managed and are on plan per the required timescales.
• Budget and Forecast Management: Work closely with the Commercial Finance team to understand performance vs plan and provide insight to Budget and Forecast processes.
• Team Culture and Development: Embed a team culture aligned with the Group’s core values. Support the continuous development of your team.
• Financial Systems and Efficiency: Influence in the implementation of financial systems, processes, and controls to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Skills & Experience Required

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or Equivalent): Possess a recognized accounting qualification with a minimum of 5 years of post-qualification experience in a senior finance role. Prior experience of a reporting role would be a preference.
• Financial Acumen: Strong knowledge of accounting principles, standards, and practices. Proficiency in using financial software, systems, and tools.
• Analytical and Communication Skills: Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. Attention to detail and effective communication skills with your team, senior management and Group departments.
• Leadership and Team Development: Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing finance team.
• Time Management and Resilience: Meeting tight deadlines and managing multiple projects and priorities.

Desirable Attributes

• Industry Expertise: Ideally, have experience in the retail or fashion industry.
• Passion for Sports Fashion: Enthusiasm for the sports fashion industry and awareness of its trends.
• Positive Attitude and Drive: Exhibit positivity, enthusiasm, resilience, and a proactive approach to challenges.

What We Offer

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a workplace where every colleague is valued, respected, and empowered. We celebrate the diversity of our teams and strive to ensure that all colleagues regardless of background, identity, or lived experience can thrive and contribute meaningfully. As a part of our successful and continually evolving company, you’ll be encouraged to embrace and uphold our strategic priorities: putting people first, at the forefront of digital innovation, staying deeply attuned to our customers, and pursuing operational excellence. We are always exploring new avenues for growth, and we welcome individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact every day. We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:

• Incremental Holiday Allowance
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
• Discounted Gym membership
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications