Consolidation and Financial Systems Specialist

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 centres, 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.

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) Oracle Hyperion. 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 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.

• 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 and ensure all new accounts are properly populated.
• 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 the process more efficient and easier for our entities.
• Evaluation of all changes, including verification that there is no undesirable financial impact on the reporting, and the financial integrity of the consolidation system remains intact.
• Ensuring budgeting, forecasting and actual reporting is embedded across all entities, ensuring maximum use of functionality available where applicable.
• Reviewing the current reporting of KPIs in Onyx and analysis performed, with a view to identifying improvements and updating based on definition changes.

• Being the SME for all Onyx (Oracle Hyperion) 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, ensuring timely submission of monthly results.

• 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 the 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 to ensure successful implementation without undesirable impacts elsewhere.

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. Expert in financial reporting and consolidation systems, experienced in managing the consolidation of multiple entities (Oracle Hyperion EPM highly desirable).

Knowledge/Skills/Other attributes: Excellent communication skills and conversing fluently in English both written and verbally. The ability and motivation to solve unique and complex problems. Logical and critical thinking skills to appraise solutions and ensure they are fit for purpose. Ability to think clearly, be organised and execute effectively. Systems accountant mindset and ability to understand how a system is designed and structured. Confidence in challenging senior partners and holding partners accountable for action plan delivery. Influencing and leadership skills: grounded experience of building, developing, and sustaining relationships with key partners at all levels. Structured and logical problem solver; ability to communicate effectively at all levels, written and verbal. Self-starter who possesses the ability and drive to operate independently; high energy level, intellectual curiosity, and strong work ethic with a commitment to continuous improvement in a dynamic and changing environment. Team player with ambition and self-motivation, with the ability to engage, challenge and work effectively with others, and to coach people in a matrix organisation.

Planning and Decision Making: Identifying and leading improvement designs to implementation. Ensuring proposed changes to the system are fit for purpose. Strong organisational skills, able to cope with different tasks and deadlines at the same time. Responsibility for planning own work, within given priorities and procedures, and meet deadlines. The individual will need to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders and should be confident in communicating to a wide range of stakeholders with varying seniority.

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

Join us for a great career and competitive compensation & benefits whilst keeping the world a safer place.

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. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.