Fleet Financial Reporting Lead - 12-Month Contract

The Internal Reporting Manager is responsible for managing processes, data and accounting, focusing on our vessels, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery of robust data, financial reporting and information. This role reports directly to the Head of Finance and has line management responsibility for a team of Management Accountants, along with indirect oversight of additional team members. While senior in scope, the position is inherently hands-on, retaining direct accountability for day-to-day accounting operations, process execution, and active involvement in core financial activities. The Internal Reporting Manager is a 9-12-month fixed-term contract.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the accounting relationships, lines of communication, information, outputs and data from in-house vessel operations and external ship managers (across all locations) and take responsibility for the quality, integrity and accuracy of the data that is received and ultimately flows into the Sun accounting system, with particular focus on the voyage accounting, operating cost and port cost systems.
• Review vessel information and reports across the company’s entire fleet to ensure the company’s records are at all times consistent, accurate and in-line with underlying vessel movements, employment and costs, with particular focus and responsibility on drydocks, projects and unexpected costs and capex.
• Set up, manage, maintain, control, reconcile and be able to report actual monthly vessel accounting results, budgets and forecasts for the company’s fleet to inform about latest performance.
• Act as the key link between the Group Accounting Manager and the Ship Accounting Manager, facilitating a smooth, accurate and efficient process of reporting vessel activities up into the group’s consolidated accounts from the various systems and processes used.
• As necessary, lead, mentor, and motivate a team of financial professionals, providing guidance and support to ensure their professional growth and development.
• The role will require strong collaboration with both our external and internal auditors during our year end process, providing all vessel, accounting and consolidation information to, and as requested.
• Work with other members of the team and departments to manage data integrity and understand and control links with other systems, tools and data flows.
• Perform as needed, and regularly assist to review all of the SOX controls as they relate to the vessel revenue, opex, accounting and reporting processes, including that such controls are active, fit-for-purpose, efficient and reflect the actual work performed.
• Work with the Group Accounting Manager on the preparation and review of head office journals and group consolidation.
• With other members of the team, keep the accounting systems and set-up under evaluation, looking at Sun and other accounting software to consider further automation and streamlining of the group’s accounting processes.
• Stay up to date on accounting matters and work alongside other members of the team to ensure that the accounting and reporting work performed consistently and correctly reflects the group’s accounting policies as written.
• Identify opportunities for process optimisation and implement best practices to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of financial reporting procedures.

Requirements:

• Qualified accountant with a minimum of 4-6 years PQE, or similar level of qualification by experience.
• Very strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills, alongside good organisational skills and strong time management abilities.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, with strong written English language skills as well as people and team management experience.
• Methodical, energetic approach with focused attention to detail, with proven resilience and an ability to see and identify key risks to accuracy in the accounting and reporting process.
• Good level of general IT knowledge, with accounting systems management experience, together with a proven ability to critique and improve financial systems, processes, procedures and controls.
• Good working accounting knowledge, ideally with experience of US GAAP, and exposure to U.S. Sarbanes Oxley, or a similar internal controls environment.
• Proven high levels of experience of using MS office applications, with an emphasis on Excel and associated controls, risk management and good practices in its use.
• Sound understanding of financial and legal regulations, including areas such as KYC, conflicts of interest and sanctions, as they apply to the Group.
• Experience in the maritime sector or other asset-heavy industries is desirable, but not essential.