Financial Controller

Financial Controller

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Medium

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead financial control for a dynamic ecommerce company and optimise financial processes.
  • Company: Join Pattern, a leader in ecommerce acceleration with a vibrant culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 28 days holiday, hybrid working, and private medical insurance.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development and fun company socials.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced ecommerce industry while growing your career.
  • Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in financial control and ecommerce preferred.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Pattern accelerates brands on global ecommerce marketplaces leveraging proprietary technology and AI. Utilising more than 66 trillion data points, sophisticated machine learning and AI models, Pattern optimizes and automates all levers of ecommerce growth for global brands, including advertising, content management, logistics and fulfillment, pricing, forecasting and customer service. Hundreds of global brands depend on Pattern's ecommerce acceleration platform every day to drive profitable revenue growth across 60+ global marketplaces—including Amazon, Walmart.com, Target.com, eBay, Tmall, TikTok Shop, JD, and Mercado Libre.

We are looking for a Financial Controller to take ownership of the core financial control environment for Pattern Europe. This is a senior, hands‐on role with broad accountability — spanning revenue recognition, partner invoicing, statutory reporting, audit, and the operational finance infrastructure that underpins a complex multi‐brand, multi‐marketplace business across three legal entities.

The successful candidate will lead two accountants in India, partner with the Global accounting team in Utah, as well as work closely with commercial finance and operational teams based in London. The role will play an important role in shaping how tools, controls and reporting evolve alongside the business.

What is the day in the life of a Financial Controller?

  • Own the month‐end close process for the UK, German and Polish entities, including review of journals, management of close deadlines, and collation of schedules and supporting reports — working in close partnership with the Global Accounting Team and the Europe Finance Director.
  • Regularly maintain detailed reconciliations of all balance sheet accounts, including intercompany positions, accruals, and prepayments, ensuring completeness and accuracy at each period end.
  • Manage the statutory audit processes and lead the preparation of the annual statutory financial statements in accordance with UK GAAP / FRS 102, coordinating with external auditors and functional teams.
  • Oversight of AR function and ensuring timely collections and aged debt management.
  • Ensure effective internal controls are in place to support compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements for financial and fiscal reporting.
  • Partner with the commercial and operations teams to ensure financial data accurately reflects the economics of the business — including marketplace revenue, marketplace fees, storage costs, and internal operational costs.
  • Respond to ad‐hoc information requests from internal and external stakeholders; exercise sound judgement in addressing or escalating issues as appropriate.
  • Support unit economics analysis and brand‐level profitability reporting, by ensuring the integrity of underlying data flowing into Netsuite.
  • Relationship with the centralised AP function, ensuring coding accuracy, timely supplier payments, and that the Europe team's needs are well represented.
  • Support the Finance Director and work directly with the accounting team to ensure accuracy and consistency across all financial outputs.
  • Identify and implement solutions to streamline and accelerate the month‐end close cycle, reducing manual effort and improving reliability.
  • Support the development of automated and scalable financial processes, working alongside the finance team's data and tooling workstreams, with a focus on improving the control framework and reporting efficiency as the business grows.
  • Partner with central Support Global Tax teams in corporation tax calculations and liaising with external tax advisors on planning and compliance matters.
  • Develop a strong working knowledge of intercompany processes, and how they impact on the European P&Ls.
  • Review lease accounting and ensure appropriate local GAAP adjustments are recorded for UK GAAP / FRS 102 and German HGB purposes, working closely with Global Accounting.

What will I need to thrive in this role?

  • Qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA), ideally Big‐4 trained and with post‐qualification experience in industry a financial control or similar role.
  • Prior exposure to ecommerce, marketplace, or consumer goods businesses preferred — comfort with high transaction volumes and revenue recognition.
  • Experience preparing or managing statutory accounts under UK GAAP / FRS 102; German HGB and IFRS familiarity an advantage.
  • Experience working with external auditors and managing year‐end audit processes.
  • Exposure to multi‐entity or multi‐jurisdictional structures.
  • High attention to detail with a structured, methodical approach to financial control.
  • Strong analytical capability — comfortable interrogating large datasets and working with finance systems and BI tools.
  • Confident communicator, able to translate financial information for non‐finance stakeholders and manage relationships with external advisors and auditors.
  • Self‐starter with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast‐paced environment.
  • Collaborative team player who can also work independently and take ownership of complex deliverables.
  • Curiosity about data, tooling, and process improvement — an interest in how finance teams leverage technology is a genuine advantage in this role.

Why should I work at Pattern?

Pattern offers big opportunities to make a difference in the ecommerce industry! We are a company full of talented people that evolve quickly and often. We set big goals, work tirelessly to achieve them, and we love our Pattern community. We also believe in having fun and balancing our lives, so we offer awesome benefits that include:

  • 28 days Holiday (increasing to 32 days with each year of service)
  • Competitive salary
  • Hybrid working (3 days a week in the office Tues‐Thurs)
  • Private Medical Insurance
  • Enhanced Pension Scheme
  • Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave and pay
  • Nursery Scheme
  • Cycle to Work Scheme
  • Regular company socials

Financial Controller employer: Medium

Pattern is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in the ecommerce sector. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer extensive benefits including 28 days of holiday, hybrid working arrangements, and a supportive community that values both hard work and fun. Join us in London to be part of a talented team that thrives on collaboration and continuous improvement, while enjoying a competitive salary and comprehensive health benefits.

Medium

Contact Details:

Medium Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Financial Controller

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or attend industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with yours. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.

Tip Number 3

Practice your answers to common interview questions, but keep it natural. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your achievements effectively.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar!

We think you need these skills to ace Financial Controller

Financial Control
Revenue Recognition
Statutory Reporting
Audit Management
UK GAAP / FRS 102
German HGB
Intercompany Processes

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Financial Controller role. Highlight your experience with financial control, statutory reporting, and any relevant ecommerce exposure. We want to see how your skills align with what we do at Pattern!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background makes you a perfect fit for our team. Don’t forget to mention your interest in leveraging technology in finance!

Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves working with large datasets, make sure to highlight your analytical capabilities. Share examples of how you've successfully interrogated data or improved financial processes in your previous roles.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Good luck!

How to prepare for a job interview at Medium

Know Your Numbers

As a Financial Controller, you'll need to demonstrate your expertise in financial data. Brush up on key metrics related to revenue recognition, balance sheet reconciliations, and statutory reporting. Be ready to discuss how you've managed these areas in previous roles.

Showcase Your Tech Savvy

Pattern leverages technology and AI for ecommerce growth, so highlight any experience you have with finance systems and BI tools. Discuss how you've used technology to streamline processes or improve reporting efficiency in your past roles.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle complex financial situations. Prepare examples of how you've navigated challenges like managing audits or ensuring compliance with GAAP regulations in a multi-entity environment.

Communicate Clearly

You'll need to translate financial information for non-finance stakeholders, so practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. Think about how you can convey your insights effectively, especially when discussing financial data with commercial and operational teams.