Group Financial Controller

As the Group Financial Controller based from Weybridge, Surrey you will be responsible forReporting to the Finance Director, the Group Financial Controller leads the Group's financial control, close, statutory reporting, audit preparation and finance operations capability. The role owns the integrity of the financial records, the balance sheet control framework, month-end and year-end close discipline, technical accounting judgements, financial controls, process ownership and has direct line management of the finance manager and transaction processing finance team. The role provides accurate, controlled financial information to support decision-making and works closely with colleagues across the Finance Leadership Team and the wider business. While the role has a strong financial-control orientation, the successful candidate will be expected to operate collaboratively and flexibly, supporting finance improvement initiatives and wider business or strategic projects as required by the Finance Director.Key duties and responsibilities * Lead the month-end and year-end close timetable, ensuring deadlines are clear, dependencies are managed and outputs are completed to a high standard.

* Ensure ledgers, journals, accruals, prepayments, cut-off and key close judgements are complete, accurate and appropriately reviewed.

* Own the balance sheet control framework, ensuring key reconciliations are prepared, reviewed, evidenced and cleared on a timely basis.

* Maintain strong financial controls across the finance function and wider business, including process documentation, review evidence and action tracking.

* Provide accurate, reliable and well-controlled financial information to support reporting, planning and business decision-making.

* Lead year-end close, statutory accounts preparation support, audit preparation and delivery of audit-ready schedules and working papers.

* Coordinate audit deliverables, evidence requests and query resolution, escalating material issues or judgmental areas to the Finance Director in a timely manner.

* Lead the preparation, review and submission of relevant finance deliverables, including accounts packs, VAT returns, regulatory finance returns and other recurring finance outputs.

* Collaborate with colleagues responsible for management reporting, planning, forecasting and commercial analysis to ensure reporting outputs are based on accurate financial records.

* Support wider business and strategic projects as required by the Finance Director, bringing financial control, technical accounting and process discipline to project delivery.

* Manage and support the development of the finance operations team, setting clear expectations around ownership, quality, review standards, timetables and escalation.

* Act with delegated authority from the Finance Director on financial control, close, audit, statutory reporting and finance operations matters, escalating significant risks, judgements and resourcing issues as appropriate.Collaboration and ways of working

* Build effective relationships across Finance, Operations, People & Culture, senior leadership and external advisers.

* Operate with a clear understanding of ownership responsibility, but with collaborative flexibility and willingness to help colleagues during peak periods while maintaining robust control standards.

* Communicate financial risks, process issues and timetable pressures clearly, constructively and early enough for action to be taken.

* Promote a finance culture based on accuracy, accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration and practical problem-solving.