Finance Manager, Group

Summary
The Financial Controller is responsible for financial reporting, control and management information across the relevant businesses. Reporting to Group Finance and partnering with local management, the role combines technical accounting and governance with forecasting, commercial insight and effective business partnering. The role also oversees local finance operations and works with Shared Services to ensure processes are accurate, efficient and well controlled.

Principal Accountabilities:

Financial reporting and accounting

• Lead the month end and year end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Review management accounts, journals, accruals, prepayments, intercompany balances and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Ensure appropriate accounting treatment and maintain the integrity of the general ledger.
• Provide clear variance analysis and commentary on financial performance.

Management information, budgeting and forecasting

• Produce and review high quality monthly management information for local management and Group Finance.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, cash flow planning and liquidity management.
• Analyse financial and operational performance, identifying key trends, risks and opportunities.

Business partnering

• Act as a trusted finance partner to local directors and management.
• Translate financial information into clear commercial insight and provide constructive challenge to support decision making.
• Build effective relationships across local operations, Group Finance and Shared Services.

Financial control, governance and ethics

• Maintain a robust internal control environment and ensure compliance with Group Finance policies and delegated authorities.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties, approval controls, supporting evidence and financial governance.
• Identify and escalate material financial, operational or control risks and support timely corrective action.
• Promote high standards of professional integrity, ethical conduct and financial discipline.

Audit, tax and statutory compliance

• Coordinate local finance support for internal and external audit and ensure queries and findings are addressed promptly.
• Coordinate local financial requirements relating to tax, VAT and other statutory obligations, working with specialist advisers where required.
• Maintain appropriate financial records, audit trails and supporting documentation.

Working capital, treasury and finance operations

• Maintain oversight of cashflow forecasting, funding requirements, banking, reconciliations and payment controls.
• Monitor billing, revenue, aged debt, provisions and wider working capital performance.
• Provide financial oversight of accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, payroll and cash allocation.
• Focus on review, control, judgement and exception management rather than routine transactional processing.

Continuous improvement and change

• Identify opportunities to standardise, simplify and automate finance activities.
• Support finance system, process and control improvements and contribute to Group Finance initiatives.
• Provide effective leadership and support to local finance operations during periods of change.

The successful candidate must have:

• Qualified accountant: ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong technical accounting, financial control and balance sheet management experience.
• Demonstrable experience of month end close, management accounts, budgeting and forecasting.
• Experience supporting external audit and statutory reporting requirements.
• Strong analytical, Excel and financial systems capability.
• Confident communicator able to partner with and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines while maintaining accuracy and control.
• High professional integrity, sound judgement and a collaborative working style.
• Experience in financial services, professional services, corporate services or another regulated environment.
• Experience across multiple legal entities or jurisdictions.
• Experience working with Group Finance and Shared Services.
• Exposure to intercompany and cross border accounting, finance transformation or systems implementation.