SCUK Contract Hire Accounting Manager

Country: United Kingdom

Santander Consumer Finance is one of the UK's Leading Motor Finance companies providing finance to a network of car dealerships throughout the United Kingdom. The purpose of this role is to establish and lead core financial operations for an existing contract hire (CH) business that we will migrate in June. The role holder will have one direct report (P/Q accountant). Post migration of the existing CH portfolio, our aim is to write new contract hire business. The contract hire finance team will expand as the business scales; the post holder will take a central role in establishing the finance team and its processes. Please note – This role is a Unity Place, Milton Keynes based job role.

Responsibilities

• Progresses specific actions that could minimise or mitigate risks identified (e.g., conduct risk, operational risk, credit risk etc.) and ensure 100% completion of mandatory training and any other role specific training required.
• Proactively supports the bank in meeting its business, legal, regulatory and stakeholder obligations in respect of Financial Crime Compliance, including identifying, deterring, detecting, and disrupting money laundering, sanctions non‑compliance, terrorist financing, bribery, corruption, and tax evasion risks that arise by way of its activities.
• Ensures all planning assumptions and reporting controls are fully documented and operated correctly.
• Leads a small, high performing team of finance professionals enhancing and streamlining reporting, improving analysis capability, and providing accurate information and credible forecasts.
• Initially the role will have one direct report; as contract hire expands, there is an expectation that the team will increase in size, with a mix of accounts assistants and part qualified accountants.
• Fostering new ideas and developing individual talent, ensuring appropriate performance targets and development plans are in place.
• Provides a useful, high quality service to the business by listening effectively and establishing clear channels of communication with the customer around mutual expectations.
• Key customer relationship is the external auditors, and the finance manager will ensure that audit queries are answered in full and on a timely basis.
• Demonstrates awareness and understanding of Santander’s contract hire business strategy.
• Understands the value of data on the decision‑making process.
• Provides analysis and delivers insight that links financial reports to business strategies in order to improve understanding and to better support business decisions and plans.
• Provides commercial and other technical advice to support business decision making.
• Ensures robust controls are in place to reconcile MI view to the statutory financial statements.
• Oversees production of external reporting.
• Adhering to our commitment to Consumer Duty ensuring we put our customers’ needs first and set higher and clearer standards of consumer protection.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of processes, methods, and tools of financial reporting; ability to create and maintain accurate and thorough financial reports.
• Knowledge of the financial services industry and relevant commercial sectors, the organisation, business and regulatory environment.
• Knowledge of macroeconomic landscape, economic drivers and their relevance to the Bank’s strategy and sustainability.
• Ability to interpret and evaluate financial information and make recommendations.
• Track record of handling projects, developing information systems and various stakeholder management.
• Experience in working with multiple internal customers, some at a senior level.
• Problem solving, organisational and process improvement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple conflicting interests and deadlines, challenging others.
• Ability to look beyond the immediate situations / issues.
• Experience on updating, presenting insight and discussing cost and / or income performance.
• Understands the need to use different leadership styles to manage or influence colleagues.
• Confident and credible in dealings with external stakeholders / bodies.
• Experience in working in a finance function.
• CIMA / ACCA / ACA (or equivalent) qualification.

Benefits

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• 30 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays.
• Car allowance.
• Annual bonus based on personal and company performance.
• Private medical cover.
• Generous pension contributions.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Sharesave scheme.
• Gym passes at a reduced rate for 3,000 gyms, leisure centres etc.

Inclusion

At Santander we’re creating a thriving workplace where all colleagues feel they belong and are supported to succeed. We all help to make Santander a workplace that celebrates diversity and attracts, retains and develops the most talented and committed people through living our values of Simple, Personal, and Fair. At Santander Consumer Finance we have a zero‑tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying, harassment (including sexual) or victimisation of any kind.