Consolidation and Financial Systems Specialist Finance - Smiths Detection - Hemel Hempstead in London

Location: United Kingdom

Company Description: Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group, is a global leader in threat detection and screening technologies for aviation, ports & borders, defense, and urban security. Our expertise is spread across 5 R&D centers, 21 Global Offices and 7 Manufacturing Sites with 3000 Brilliant minds globally contributing for over 40 years at the frontline which enables us to deliver the solutions needed to protect our society from any threat and illegal passage of explosives, prohibited weapons, contraband, toxic chemicals, and narcotics.

Description: We are open to this role being based at either HQ Hemel Hempstead or London Blackfriars. The individual will be part of the Business Solution team for the Division, in particular, the process owner and SME for the Division’s consolidation system (Onyx). They will ensure the process is suitable and continuously look for ways to improve and make it more efficient for monthly submission and consolidation. They will be the functional lead to steer and support our local teams during submission (and other times) when required. The individual will work closely with the Head of Business Solutions, the Divisional Financial Controller, the global finance team, and IT support teams.

• Process Ownership and Governance:
• Process Driver: Define the financial reporting consolidation mechanism, how the process provides the global deliverables, where the value lies for our internal customers, and what good should/could look like.
• Business Engagement: Engaging key stakeholders who are responsible for, and are customers of the process today to understand pain points, areas of improvement etc.
• Documentation and Standards: Responsible for creation and maintenance of Process documentation, policies, controls, desktop procedures.
• Governance: Put in place the right measures, metrics and review forums to manage the ongoing performance of the process. Create processes and controls to manage change requests. Manage and resolve divergences to standard process.
• Design and Improvements:
• Identifying source systems for manual data enhancements and improving mapping to eliminate the need for manual intervention in monthly and half yearly reporting including supplementary analysis.
• Design and manage functional dimensions and maximise opportunity for appropriate granularity that is fully utilised and consistent across entities to harmonise reporting.
• Designing and implementing the strategic plan process into Onyx to improve quality of longer-term business plans and enabling scenario and what-if sensitivities.
• Continuously identifying and implementing improvement opportunities to enhance Onyx and make process more efficient.
• Evaluation of all changes, including verification that there is no undesirable financial impact on the reporting.
• Ensuring budgeting, forecasting and actual reporting is embedded across all entities.
• Reviewing the current reporting of KPIs in Onyx and analysis performed, with a view to identifying improvements.
• Over month end close:
• Being the SME for all Onyx related issues.
• Providing functional support to all entities across the Division over the month end period.
• Supporting and resolving validation issues during the submission process.
• Outside of month end close:
• Being the SME for all Onyx issues and providing functional support to all entities across the Division.
• Validating BAU requests to ensure they align with strategic plan for Onyx reporting.
• Ensuring that BAU changes are requested in full format and set up properly.
• Ensuring testing is adequately performed after any change to Onyx has been made.
• Managing improvements and changes to Onyx so that their implementation is successful.

Qualifications:

• Education: Qualified Accountant with a Professional Financial Qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent). Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Experience: Strong group consolidation experience, deep systems expertise (ideally Onyx or similar), and the technical and analytical mindset to own and continuously improve the divisional financial reporting system.
• Knowledge/Skills/Other attributes: Excellent communication skills, logical and critical thinking skills, systems accountant mindset, influencing and leadership skills, structured and logical problem solver, self-starter, team player.

Impact and Scope:

Driving the success of the consolidation system used within the Division. Key in achieving the continuous improvement and process efficiencies.

Diversity & Inclusion: We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics.