Financial Controller

Job Title:  Financial Controller

Axiom are supporting a recently-merged SME business in the Bucks area who are looking for an experienced Finance Manager to join them during an exciting time of growth and transformation. The two successful businesses have joined forces to improve their product offering to their clients and there is looking to be a bright future for the business. There are currently several transformation, systems and process improvement projects on the go that you will get to be involved in.  The FC will report to the UK Finance Director and will mentor and manage a team.

Main Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day accounting, statutory reporting, tax and compliance execution for the UK and international entities
• Team Management: Lead and mentor three direct reports (1 Management Accountant, 2 Financial Accountants) with several transactional finance people under them
• Manage the full month-end close process and responsible budgets.
• Challenge, change and improve existing practices, to bring efficiencies to the operations
• Support on several ongoing finance and system transformation projects, including the transition to IFRS
• Work with Senior stakeholders across the business to improve processes
• Work with Tax and Treasury teams on related accounting and project initiatives.
• Liaison with both external and internal auditors/consultants as necessary

Experience

• Fully qualified accountant with post qualified experience  
• Experience of successful team management is essential
• Excellent technical skills are essential (UK GAAP or IFRS), as is demonstrable track record in best practice management of financial close cycles
• Experience of working in an evolving, change environment would be advantageous
• Play a key role in the monthly financial and management accounting processes  
• Process improvement and value adding driven
• Creating meaningful financial analysis and understanding
• Strong systems knowledge such as MS Excel skills; SAP beneficial but not essential

Personal Qualities

• An outstanding leader and manager, with proven success in developing and mentoring a finance team, being able to motivate and build strong relationships with the rest of the team
• An outgoing and approachable style, coupled with a sense of humour!
• Sound commercial business sense and an ability to build relationships across all functions and across international groups  
• Strong verbal, interpersonal, and written skills, with an ability to explain complex finance and business issues clearly and confidently to non-finance stakeholders  
• Proactive and dynamic, keen to take the initiative and to anticipate and respond to the needs of the business rather than awaiting direction, able to flag-up issues even beyond one’s remit
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced change environment 
• Ability to organise, prioritise, and self-motivate with a high level of commitment and initiative, under tight deadlines 
• Ability to build relationships and work with all levels of internal stakeholders, across disciplines, as well as outside clients and vendors