Head of General Ledger in Manchester

This is a hybrid role, offering a combination of being able to work remotely and from one of our offices in Latvia (Riga), or the UK (Corby or Manchester).

We’re looking for a highly skilled and forward‑thinking Head of General Ledger to lead our operational accounting function within Global Shared Business Services (GSBS). This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for ensuring accurate, efficient, and well‑governed financial operations across 13 operating companies in EMEA. You will lead a team of c.20 accounting professionals, oversee key financial processes including audits, group reporting, balance sheet reconciliations and intercompany operations, and play an essential role in transformation, automation, and acquisition integration.

If you excel at driving accuracy, strengthening controls, and inspiring teams through change, this is a high‑impact role where you can shape the future of our global finance operations.

Responsibilities

• Leading, coaching, and developing a high‑performing operational accounting team of around 20 people.
• Managing the year‑end audit process, ensuring timely and accurate submissions and supporting the EMEA Finance Controller.
• Overseeing monthly group reporting for 13 operating companies, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Reviewing balance sheet reconciliations across EMEA to guarantee completeness and control integrity.
• Strengthening intercompany processes and ensuring effective month‑end reporting flows.
• Developing team capability through training, mentoring, and knowledge‑building.
• Ensuring accurate SAP year‑end roll‑forward and managing key SAP‑related accounting processes.
• Creating GB payroll postings and circulating financial reports to management accountants.
• Driving automation and efficiency improvements, especially across banking operations.
• Ensuring appropriate authorisation coverage in all operational banks.
• Leading the operational accounting integration of new acquisitions, including SAP flow testing.
• Supporting the rollout of new T&E systems across EMEA.
• Managing budgets, promoting strong governance, and ensuring compliance with RS Group policies.
• Driving process standardisation, continuous improvement, and delivery of operational excellence targets.
• Supporting global GSBS transformation initiatives spanning people, process, systems, and migration activities.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field, plus a professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Extensive experience in operational accounting leadership and managing teams.
• Strong SAP knowledge and hands‑on experience with financial processes.
• Proven experience managing audits, group reporting and complex accounting cycles.
• Strong change management experience with a track record of delivering successful business transformation.
• High emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, with the ability to generate actionable insights.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, collaborate, and build strong relationships across matrixed environments.
• Proven coaching, leadership, and facilitation skills at all organisational levels.
• Experience managing business transitions and driving benefit realisation.
• Ability to operate effectively across geographies and time zones.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and deliver to challenging deadlines.
• A positive, flexible mindset and role‑model behaviours aligned to our values.

Desirable

• Strong understanding of project budgeting, benefit management, and financial KPIs.
• Experience leading change and IT implementations at organisational scale.
• Change management qualification or equivalent.
• Process improvement or subject‑matter expertise in financial operations.
• Additional European languages.
• Experience negotiating with and managing third‑party providers.

Benefits

• Financial – pension/retirement; life assurance; salary finance (payroll deduction loan scheme).
• Wellbeing – medical plans; health screening; critical illness; disability insurance; holiday / paid time off; employee assistance programme; discounted gym/health club membership.
• Lifestyle – transportation assistance schemes (e.g., cycle to work, travel loans, car leasing); onsite catering/lunch vouchers; retail discounts.
• Spotlight – our global recognition programme provides a platform to highlight and recognise people role modelling our values.