Country Controller

Primary purpose of the role:

Responsibility for the Financial Control environment for the UK entities, including the overseeing of accounting and internal control activities. This role is a key part of the UK Accounting team.

The role will be responsible for the accurate monthly accounting in local systems and group reporting.

The role requires the ability to understand and apply specific business knowledge in an effort to anticipate potential problems and force timely resolutions. As there are frequent interaction with Regional Controlling team in English, strong presentation and communication skills are essential.

Your role in our mission:

• Review and report on monthly performance from local accounting system to the consolidation /reporting tool to deliver robust financial information free from error on a monthly basis.
• Ensure the month end closing and all relevant reporting (monthly, quarterly & annual) is completed in a timely manner & within US reporting deadlines for the UK entities for Fixed Assets.
• Oversee the accurate and compliant management of organization’s tangible assets, including their acquisition, depreciation, and disposal. This involves maintaining records, ensuring proper accounting, and adhering to relevant regulations and accounting standard.
• Perform risk analysis, review, and providing recommendations for business process changes necessary to address risks of financial misstatement. Working with management, operations and accounting teams on implementing the changes.
• Responsible for the production of the monthly disclosure report for the country and any other ad-hoc report requested by the global accounting structure.
• Maintaining an up-to-date fixed asset register, including details of acquisitions, dispositions, and transfers.
• Calculating and recording depreciation and amortization for various assets.
• Calculating and controlling the dilapidation and ARO provisions.
• Managing capital expenditure budgets, validating asset acquisitions, and ensuring they align with approved budgets.
• Preparing financial statements and reports related to fixed assets, ensuring compliance with accounting standards (e.g., GAAP) and internal policies.
• Identifying and recommending process improvements to enhance fixed asset management.
• Provide support to investigate and resolve accounting issues.
• Implement, own and improve the regular balance sheet reviews for the UK entities (regularity of review dependent on importance of country and size of previous accounting issues) and have a special focus on performing & reviewing balance sheet account reconciliations for both local and USGAAP purposes.
• Accountable for ensuring compliance with group accounting policies, US GAAP and SOX.
• Collaborating with and supporting cluster finance director and controller in ensuring ongoing risk based monitoring, design, and implementation of effective internal controls for the Cluster locations including those in scope for the SOX. Responsible for country approval and cluster certification of SOX (or SOX-Lite) controls for the UK entities with a goal of maintaining the same effectiveness, not lower than the average of EMEA countries.
• Drive and support the effective operation of accounting in the country. Identify any issues and manage resolution. Provide support in any additional transition to the outsourcing companies, or system implementation if occurs.
• Being responsible and managing all relations with outsourced service provider (TCS), Audit and Tax Consultants and tax public services with the support of the third party company.
• Ensure compliance with Local GAAP (with the local 3rd party) and USGAAP principles.
• Support capital lease and real estate area, monitor significant or complex transactions and work closely with the global SME.
• Responsible to prepare the Statutory Financial Statement and coordinating the audit.
• Support the statutory outsourcing project; ensure a smooth transition to the third party providers.
• Advise on accounting and tax issues with regard to topics analyzed by the Company.

Valued skills and experience:

• Chartered Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA or local equivalent)
• Managing a General Ledger close for a large multinational corporation
• Good understanding of US GAAP and IFRS
• Experienced in preparing Statutory Accounts
• Experience working within a matrix organization
• Proactive self-starter with proven problem solving skill set
• Experience of working in a shared service environment
• Excellent communicator with team building skills
• Independent, proactive and inspires to challenge the status quo
• Presence of character to command respect and build working relationships at all levels

Desirable knowledge/ experience:

• Exposure to SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley)
• Good understanding of Taxation (particularly VAT)
• Experience implementing/improving financial processes
• Management experience including managing employees
• Remote management skills of a team deployed across several countries