Head Office Company Controller

Overview

PURPOSE & IMPACT: Working in the Group Financial Reporting Team, this is a key role involving the production of month end reporting and statutory reporting deliverables for head office entities. In doing so, financial control compliance must be maintained, whilst striving for process and procedure improvement.

The candidate should possess advanced skills in spreadsheet, word processing, and finance software, with strong knowledge of International Accounting Standards. They bring solid experience in financial accounting, including experience in audit, fixed asset accounting, balance sheet reconciliations. Additionally, they have proven expertise in people management, process development, and implementation. Holding a bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field, and/or a relevant professional certification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA).

Responsibilities

• Overseeing the work of colleagues across the Group and Shared Finance Centre (in Hammersmith) to ensure the timely and accurate submission of the monthly reporting process for head office companies
• Being responsible for the accuracy and completeness of accounting entries in SAP ECC through establishing working practices with colleagues, reviewing journals and reviewing balance sheet reconciliations
  • Confidence to get hands-on with journal preparation
  • Key areas of focus: financial reporting, balance sheet reconciliations, financing, prepayments, accruals, capex and tax
• Supporting members of other teams involved in the preparation of financial information, such as the Shared Finance Centre, Tax and Treasury Teams
• Completion of financial controls in accordance with the controls framework as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
• Preparation of monthly reporting packs and statutory accounts (FRS 101) for head office companies in BPC
• Support with wider team activities, such as assisting with the preparation the Group’s quarterly and annual financial reporting deliverables, including preparing consolidation journals, financial disclosures and technical accounting papers
• Input into the Annual budget and Quarterly forecasts
• Supporting any projects impacting financial reporting. Previous examples include acquisition accounting, refinancing, share repurchase and restructuring activities. Expected future activities include the migration to a new consolidation system (S/4 HANA) and adoption of IFRS 18.
• Liaison with internal and external auditors
• Opportunity to participation in finance and accounting projects, including those aimed at further utilising systems
• Any other ad-hoc tasks required to meet the needs of the Financial Reporting Group and its interaction with the wider audience of Stakeholders, e.g. Auditors, Treasury, Financial Planning and Analysis, Tax, legal, Companies House, ONS, review of subsidiary accounts

Qualifications

• Graduate
• Audit experience
• Qualified financial accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA)
• PQE experience desirable