At a Glance
- Tasks: Support financial reporting and drive process improvements in a dynamic finance environment.
- Company: Join Selecta, Europe's leading provider of self-service coffee and convenience food solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, life assurance, and unlimited coffee at the office.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating moments of joy for everyone.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial processes while developing your career in finance.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with strong analytical skills and experience in month-end reporting.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
- Description
- About Selecta
Selecta is Europe's leading provider of unattended self-service coffee and convenience food solutions.
Operating across 16 European countries, we serve over 12 million people every day through innovative vending and specialist coffee services.
In the UK, we provide a nationwide service to approximately 3,500 businesses, delivering high-quality beverages and snacks to workplaces, schools, universities, hospitals, and a wide range of other customer locations.
About the Role
As Assistant Financial Controller you will report to the Head of Financial Control and be accountable for the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of the UK entity's financial reporting to Group.
You will own the reporting of Technical and Wholesale revenue and margin – two of the five revenue streams in the business – delivering monthly actuals, variance analysis and commentary.
You will help lead the month-end close, own a defined portfolio of balance sheet reconciliations (both preparing and reviewing) and deliver the monthly, quarterly and annual Cognos submissions to Group.
You will act as the day-to-day point of contact for the external auditors and support the preparation of the year-end statutory accounts, ensuring the UK meets all Group deadlines.
The role carries a clear improvement remit: strengthening the control environment, driving automation, and supporting the transition to a new ERP.
12 month fixed term contract
Requirements
Month-end close and management reporting
Help lead the UK month-end close, ensuring the timetable is met and results are accurate, complete and fully understood
- Own the reporting of Technical and Wholesale revenue and margin, providing monthly actuals and variances to budget and forecast
- Prepare and review journals, with monthly variance analysis and provide insight to wider business
- Own the payroll journal and related reconciliations, liaising with the HR Business Partner and SD Worx
Provide detailed commentary on variances between actual and budgeted results for both the P&L and the balance sheet
Group reporting
Prepare and submit the Cognos submission to Group on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis, within deadline
- Complete intercompany reconciliations and the netting submission to Treasury
- Own IFRS 16 reporting and ensure Group receives the information it requires
- Balance sheet and controls
- Own a portfolio of balance sheet reconciliations – preparing, reviewing and clearing reconciling items and maintaining Floqast (BS reconciliation tool)
- Operate, evidence and monitor key financial controls, escalating and resolving control gaps
- Audit and statutory reporting
- Act as the day-to-day point of contact for the external auditors, ensuring all deliverables are provided on time
- Lead the preparation of the year-end statutory accounts and the audit process
- Planning, cash and change
- Work alongside Treasury and support the Head of Finance Control with free cash flow reporting and forecasting
- Support the transition to the new ERP, including data validation, process mapping and testing
- Drive process improvement and automation across the reporting cycle
- Support the annual budget, liaising with and supporting FP&A where required
- Deputise for the Head of Financial Control where required and assist with ad hoc requests from senior management
This list is not exhaustive. Responsibilities may develop over the term of the contract in line with business needs and will be reviewed with your manager.
Your core skills/attributes
- Knowledge
- Strong technical accounting knowledge as applied to group reporting, including leases (IFRS 16)
- Experience of month-end reporting and group reporting across multiple subsidiaries
- Controls background – understands balance sheet management, movements, and the link to cash and working capital
- Working knowledge of statutory accounts preparation and the external audit process
- Able to identify control and process weaknesses and implement best practice within a changing accounting function
Experience
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or equivalent) with approximately 3–5 years' post-qualification experience
- Experience of working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven finance function
- Track record of owning balance sheet reconciliations, including reviewing the work of others
- Attributes
- Driven by accuracy and attention to detail, with excellent analytical and numerical ability
- Able to explain financial results clearly to finance and non-finance stakeholders at all levels
- Well organised, able to prioritise competing demands and consistently meet reporting deadlines
- Confident in challenging existing processes and articulating improvements
- Sound business and commercial understanding
- Self-motivated team player who adapts well to a fast-moving finance environment
- Technical Skills
- Strong Excel skills (lookups, SUMIFS, pivot tables) applied to large and complex data sets
- Ability to apply systems knowledge to solve problems
- Power Point capability for reporting packs
- Knowledge
- Experience of automating processes and controls
- Awareness of a formal internal control framework and how it is evidenced
Experience
- Experience working within a Private Equity-backed business
- Multi-currency reporting and foreign currency translation experience
- Involvement in an ERP implementation or migration
- Experience coaching or reviewing the work of junior finance colleagues
- Attributes
- Ability to step back from the detail and provide commercial insight into results
- Composed under the pressure of deadlines
- Technical Skills
- Experience of Infor M3 and/or Cognos
- Experience of Flo Qast or a comparable balance sheet reconciliation tool
- Power Query, Power BI or similar data tools
Your desirable skills
- Knowledge
- Experience of automating processes and controls
- Awareness of a formal internal control framework and how it is evidenced
Experience
- Experience working within a Private Equity-backed business
- Multi-currency reporting and foreign currency translation experience
- Involvement in an ERP implementation or migration
- Experience coaching or reviewing the work of junior finance colleagues
- Attributes
- Ability to step back from the detail and provide commercial insight into results
- Composed under the pressure of deadlines
- Technical Skills
- Experience of Infor M3 and/or Cognos
- Experience of Flo Qast or a comparable balance sheet reconciliation tool
- Power Query, Power BI or similar data tools
Benefits
What’s in it for you?
- 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
- Life assurance equivalent to 2x your yearly salary
- Five weeks of occupational paid sick leave for added security
- Free parking at our Head Office and other depot locations
- Unlimited coffee and tea at our offices to keep you refreshed
- Clear career progression paths with development opportunities
- Strong leadership support to help you thrive
- Employee recognition scheme to celebrate your contributions
- Mental health and wellbeing support, including access to mental health first aiders
- Health Cash Plan
At Selecta, we are committed to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion, embracing our differences to achieve our common goal.
We are united in our principle of making people feel great and we are grounded by our purpose to create more moments of joy for everyone through our ways of working.
Assistant Financial Controller in Hemel Hempstead employer: Selecta
Selecta is an excellent employer that fosters a high-performance culture, where teamwork and client focus are at the heart of our operations. We offer competitive benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and a supportive environment that encourages innovation and transformation within the finance sector. Joining us means being part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering excellence in invoicing and billing processes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Financial Controller in Hemel Hempstead
✨Join Financial Networking Events
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We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Financial Controller in Hemel Hempstead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Academic Achievements:In banking and financial services, your academic record can really make you stand out. List relevant grades, certifications, or coursework on your CV, especially if you've taken finance-related modules. This is particularly important for a temporary role where qualifications can help you shine even brighter!
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you’ve done any internships, part-time roles, or even coursework that aligns with banking or finance, make sure you include those! Showcase specific tasks where you used quantitative skills or analytical thinking, as this is what the hiring managers at Selecta will be keen to see in your application.
Tailor Your Cover Letter Purposefully:When writing your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in a temporary position at Selecta. Let them know how you can quickly adapt to the team's needs and how eager you are to learn the ropes of the banking sector during this short stint. Your motivation and enthusiasm could really set you apart!
Be Prepared with References:For temporary roles, references can play a crucial role in your application. Make sure you’ve got a couple of references lined up who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. This helps to give Selecta confidence in your short-term commitment to the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Selecta
✨Brush Up on Financial Regulations
Since this is a role in banking and financial services, be ready to discuss key regulations like MiFID, Basel III, or GDPR. These are hot topics, and your awareness of how they impact daily operations can give you a significant edge during your interview with Selecta.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare for interview questions that assess your analytical abilities. You might need to tackle hypothetical scenarios involving risk assessment or financial forecasting. Bringing examples of relevant projects or coursework can emphasise your practical understanding of these concepts.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
For a temporary role, showing that you can quickly pick up new processes and tools is crucial. Be ready to discuss previous experiences where you had to adapt to changing requirements or tight deadlines, as this will reassure Selecta that you’re a reliable team player.
✨Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn
In a temporary position, leaning into your eagerness to learn can really set you apart. Be prepared to share how you’re staying updated on industry trends or any additional training you've pursued. Employers appreciate candidates who are proactive about their development—even for short-term roles.
