Head of Group Reporting - 6 Month FTC

Head of Group Reporting - 6 Month FTC

Temporary 58500 - 71500 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead Group Reporting, manage audits, and oversee financial statements for a dynamic FTSE 250 company.
  • Company: Join Trainline, Europe's number 1 rail app, committed to sustainable travel.
  • Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, generous leave, and clear career growth paths.
  • Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for travel and personal development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your skills.
  • Qualifications: Qualified accountant with IFRS expertise and strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.

About us

We are champions of rail, inspired to build a greener, more sustainable future of travel. Trainline enables millions of travellers to find and book the best value tickets across carriers, fares, and journey options through our highly rated mobile app, website, and B2B partner channels. Great journeys start with Trainline. Now Europe’s number 1 downloaded rail app, with over 135 million monthly visits and £6.3 billion in annual ticket sales, we collaborate with 270+ rail and coach companies in over 40 countries. We want to create a world where travel is as simple, seamless, eco-friendly and affordable as it should be. Today, we're a FTSE 250 company driven by our incredible team of over 1,000 Trainliners from 50+ nationalities, based across London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Edinburgh and Madrid. With our focus on growth in the UK and Europe, now is the perfect time to join us on this high-speed journey.

Introducing the Trainline Group Reporting Team

As a fast moving FTSE 250 business, we're looking for an experienced and technically excellent Head of Group Reporting to join us for a 6 month contract. This is a senior role at the heart of our external reporting and financial control framework, calling for deep IFRS expertise and the confidence to navigate complex and judgemental accounting areas. It's a role that goes beyond a typical Group Reporting position, suited to someone who thrives in a varied, fast paced environment, is always ready to get involved, and loves learning new things. Our business changes daily, so we need someone who stays close to the operational side of things and can help us respond quickly and effectively.

In this role as the Head of Group Reporting, you will:

  • Take ownership of producing the Group's IFRS annual and half yearly listed financial statements and annual report.
  • Lead the year end and half year external audit and review processes end to end, keeping key stakeholders informed and preparing and presenting Audit Committee papers.
  • Oversee the production and filing of subsidiary statutory accounts across our UK and international entities.
  • Own the Group's cashflow forecasting process, providing insight and analysis on liquidity, capital allocation and capital structure to support CFO and Board decision making, working closely with treasury on execution.
  • Act as the Group's primary technical accounting authority, researching and forming well reasoned positions on complex and judgemental areas, implementing new standards, and presenting conclusions to senior management, the Audit Committee, auditors and advisors.
  • Take the lead on one off projects, partnering with teams across the business, while contributing to monthly reporting, annual budgeting, and ownership of specific balance sheet, cashflow and working capital areas.
  • Build and support strong external relationships, including with auditors, loan providers and banking partners, and work closely with legal and CoSec to ensure reporting requirements are met on time.
  • Lead Finance's contribution to the Group's material controls framework under Provision 29, maintain and develop the Group's accounting policies including for acquisitions and legal structure changes, and guide reporting systems and process change to protect the integrity of our control environment.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

  • You're a qualified accountant with significant post qualification experience, including meaningful time spent in industry within a listed business, and are comfortable with the reporting obligations and scrutiny that come with that environment; you have a consistent record of delivering to deadline.
  • You bring extensive IFRS expertise and a strong technical accounting grounding, confident researching and forming defensible positions on complex areas such as multi-currency consolidations, share based payments, EPS, impairment, revenue recognition, leases and business combinations.
  • If you're currently in practice, you'd be operating at Director level or above, with substantial experience advising listed groups on complex technical matters and be ready to step into a senior in-house leadership role.
  • You have experience researching and implementing new accounting or reporting standards.
  • You're analytical and thorough when reviewing financial information, quick to spot errors in accounting treatment or anomalies that don't add up.
  • You have proven people management experience, with a track record of leading, motivating and developing high performing teams across multiple disciplines.
  • You're an excellent project manager, organised in your own workload while confident delegating and developing others, equally comfortable working independently or as part of a team.
  • You're ambitious and driven, energised by a fast paced environment, always ready to get involved in team projects and try new things; it would be helpful if you're open to occasional travel to our Paris and Edinburgh offices.

More information

Enjoy fantastic perks like private healthcare & dental insurance, a generous work from abroad policy, 2-for-1 share purchase plans, an EV Scheme to further reduce carbon emissions, extra festive time off, and excellent family-friendly benefits. We prioritise career growth with clear career paths, transparent pay bands, personal learning budgets, and regular learning days. Jump on board and supercharge your career from day one!

We're operating a hybrid model and ask that Trainliners work from the office a minimum of 60% of their time over a 12-week period. We also have a 28-day Work from Abroad policy.

Our values represent the things that matter most to us and what we live and breathe everyday, in everything we do:

  • Think Big - We're building the future of rail
  • Own It - We focus on every customer, partner and journey
  • Travel Together - We're one team
  • Do Good - We make a positive impact

We know that having a diverse team makes us better and helps us succeed. And we mean all forms of diversity - gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, nationality and diversity of thought. That's why we're committed to creating inclusive places to work, where everyone belongs and differences are valued and celebrated.

Interested in finding out more about what it's like to work at Trainline? Why not check us out on LinkedIn, Instagram and Glassdoor!

Head of Group Reporting - 6 Month FTC employer: Trainline

Trainline is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability in the travel industry. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer clear career paths, personal learning budgets, and a supportive environment for mentorship and collaboration. Our hybrid work model, generous benefits, and commitment to diversity make Trainline a rewarding place to build a meaningful career while contributing to a greener future.

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Contact Details:

Trainline Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Group Reporting - 6 Month FTC

Get Involved in Financial Networks

Join local financial associations or forums where you can connect with professionals in financial-controlling. Networking events often lead to temporary positions, as companies look for quick hires when they need extra hands.

Showcase Your Skills on Temporary Job Boards

Focus on platforms that specifically cater to temporary roles in finance. Sites like Reed or Totaljobs often list short-term gigs that are perfect for getting your foot in the door, and you can apply directly through our website for roles at Trainline.

Leverage Your Uni's Career Services

If you're still in university, tap into your career services for internship or temporary job placements. They often have insider info on companies like Trainline looking for temporary financial support, and they might help you polish your pitch.

Flexible Availability is Key

For temporary positions in financial-controlling, your availability can make a huge difference. Highlight your willingness to start immediately or work irregular hours when speaking to employers. This flexibility can land you that sought-after role!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Group Reporting - 6 Month FTC

IFRS Expertise
Technical Accounting
Financial Reporting
Audit Management
Cashflow Forecasting
Stakeholder Communication
Project Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Academic Aces:In the financial controlling game, grades and relevant certifications can make a significant difference. Be sure to highlight your academic achievements, like finance-related coursework and any professional certifications you’ve got on your CV that show you’re clued up in this area. It’s all about demonstrating that you’re not just good at numbers but also know your stuff!

Quantify Your Achievements:When applying for a temporary role in financial controlling, make sure your CV reflects any previous experience with real, measurable outcomes. Use numbers to showcase your past successes, like percentage improvements in budgeting or cost savings you’ve achieved in previous roles. This not only gives us insights into your capabilities but also tells us you're results-driven.

Personalise Your Application:We love seeing applicants who take the time to tailor their applications! In your cover letter, mention why you’re particularly interested in the temporary role with Trainline and how your specific skills and experiences align with the job. Show us that you see this role as an opportunity to contribute, even if it's for a short stint!

Flexibility is Key:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to highlight your availability in your application. We’re interested in knowing how soon you can start and if you’re open to working flexible hours. This shows us your eagerness to jump right in and adapt to the dynamic needs of our team at Trainline.

How to prepare for a job interview at Trainline

Get Hands-On with Financial Tools

Being in financial controlling means you’ll likely be working with various software like Excel, Power BI, or even SAP. Make sure you brush up on these tools and prepare to discuss your experience using them. Being able to reference specific projects or analyses where you employed these programs will definitely give you an edge.

Prepare for Technical Financial Questions

Expect scenario-based questions where you might need to analyse financial statements or suggest budgetary strategies during the interview. Practising common financial concepts like variance analysis or cost control measures will not only boost your confidence but also prove your suitability for the role.

Show Your Flexibility and Adaptability

As this is a temporary position, the interviewers will want to see that you can hit the ground running. Be sure to highlight any previous short-term roles or projects where you successfully adapted to new environments quickly – this will showcase your readiness to tackle challenges head-on.

Highlight Your Commitment to Precision

In financial controlling, attention to detail is absolutely crucial. Be ready to provide examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to spot discrepancies and ensure accuracy in financial reporting. Your precision could be the factor that sets you apart in a temporary role like this one!