We’re partnering with a leading international business to recruit a Financial Controller that will embed into the controllership team that forms part of their European Shared Service Centre.
This is a high-profile role with a clear mandate: transform and elevate the function into a best-in-class, insight-led finance operation. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how finance supports a complex, multi-entity European business moving from transactional delivery to true value-add.
If you’re looking for a role where you can drive change, influence senior stakeholders, and build a high-performing team, this is a standout opportunity.
Financial Controller – Shared Services – Benefits
- 25 days Paid holidays
- Salary Exchange Pension scheme
- Non Contributory Life Assurance
- Private Medical Insurance
- Group Income protection
Financial Controller – Shared Services – About The Role
Reporting to the Director of European Shared Services, you will take full ownership of the controllership agenda across multiple European entities:
- Act as the European controllership lead for R2R, ensuring strong governance, consistency and best practice
- Take accountability for the integrity, accuracy and completeness of financial records
- Own balance sheet governance, including reconciliations, reviews, risk identification and issue resolution
- Oversee accruals, provisions, estimates, ensuring robust documentation and review
- Ensure alignment between management, statutory and tax reporting
- Lead the end-to-end close process (month, quarter, year-end), ensuring deadlines are met with high quality output
- Manage day-to-day operations within the Controllership team, setting priorities and resolving escalations
- Review journals, reconciliations and reporting packs, ensuring a “first-time right” approach
- Drive consistency and discipline across multiple entities and reporting lines
- Deliver insightful monthly reporting, variance analysis and performance commentary
Audit, Compliance & Controls
- Own the relationship with external auditors, leading audit planning, execution and issue resolution
- Ensure ongoing SOX compliance and a robust internal control environment
- Drive a culture of continuous audit readiness and proactive risk management
- Strengthen and embed financial controls across all processes
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team (c.10–15 FTE), both direct and indirect
- Set clear objectives, KPIs and service levels across the function
- Upskill the team from transactional processing to true financial control and analysis
- Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and service excellence
Process Improvement & Transformation
- Drive the standardisation and optimisation of processes across Europe
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce close cycle time and enhance reporting quality
- Champion automation and better use of systems (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream)
- Play a key role in ongoing finance transformation and system enhancement initiatives
Stakeholder & Business Partnering
- Act as a key interface between Shared Services, local finance teams and Group Finance
- Partner with operational and finance stakeholders to improve reporting and support decision-making
- Translate complex accounting issues into clear, actionable insights
- Promote the SSC as a value-adding, customer-focused finance function
The successful Financial Controller – Shared Services will have:
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
- Strong controllership background with ownership of financial reporting and close processes
- Experience in a complex, multi-entity, international environment
- Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS / US GAAP) and controls (SOX preferred)
- Hands‑on leader, comfortable operating both strategically and at detail level
- Proven track record of process improvement, transformation and team development
- Strong systems experience (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream or similar preferred)
Howett Thorpe complies with all relevant UK legislation and does not discriminate on any protected characteristics.
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