Purpose of role
The purpose of this role is to run and manage the accurate preparation of the annual group and local statutory accounts across the entire LEWIS group. This role also acts as a lead on matters of corporate compliance (tax and otherwise) and is also seen as the technical expert on financial accounting matters across the group.
Key relationships
- Regional Financial Controllers (APAC, Europe, USA, UK)
- Head of Legal
- Financial Accountant
Group statutory reporting & audit
- Lead delivery of the Group consolidated statutory accounts and UK entity statutory accounts, including charity accounts for the Foundation.
- Manage the year-end timetable and act as key point of contact for Group auditors and Regional Financial Controllers.
- Coordinate audit planning/close meetings, deliverables, walkthroughs and testing; oversee audit pack production and uploads.
- Manage audit logistics including bank confirmations/letters and completion of audit questionnaires.
Group close, consolidation & reporting
- Own Group consolidation processes, including year-end consolidation, roll-forward of the new financial years and resolution of late/local adjustments.
- Review Group close and balance sheet; reconcile reserves and intercompany balances (including intercompany interest and dividends).
- Maintain key supporting schedules across the Group (e.g., fixed assets, intangibles, goodwill amortisation, loans/amortisation, impairments).
- Produce and maintain key statistics/disclosures required for reporting (e.g., FTE, key management personnel, directors’ emoluments, share options, charitable donations, lease-related schedules as applicable).
Management charges & intra-group recharges
- Prepare and maintain the Group management charge schedule and oversee related journals (including monthly and quarterly processes).
Tax & wider statutory compliance
- Lead delivery of UK & Group tax provisions, and tax computations.
- Support preparation/review of annual and deferred tax provisions and relevant reconciliations.
- Other tax matters with external advisors as needed (e.g., transfer pricing, R&D credits).
Foreign statutory accounts & local tax support
- Coordinate and support preparation, review and filing of foreign statutory accounts, working with Regional Financial Controllers and local auditors/advisors.
- Provide Group requirements, templates and timetables to ensure consistent local reporting and smooth consolidation.
- Review local accounts for completeness and technical compliance; manage/resolve key local accounting issues and ensure appropriate local adjustments are recorded.
- Coordinate local tax compliance support, including review/finalisation of local tax returns and alignment of local tax provisions with Group reporting.
- Liaise with external tax advisors as needed (e.g., transfer pricing, Intercompany dividends) and manage delivery of required information and final outputs.
Banking & controls
- Support key banking administration activities (e.g., HSBC admin) and appropriate authorisation of significant transactions.
- Help maintain robust documentation, reconciliations and controls supporting statutory reporting and audit readiness.
Technical accounting, process improvement & people
- Act as the technical accounting point of contact for the Group; keep knowledge current and provide pragmatic guidance.
- Drive continuous improvement and alignment of reporting processes, templates and timetables across regions.
- Coach and develop team members on technical accounting and reporting processes.
US tax
- Coordinate US tax compliance support, including providing required information to advisors and reviewing outputs to ensure consistency with Group reporting.
- Provide US personal tax information and supporting schedules on a timely basis.
- Provide UK personal tax information required for the US return and coordinate queries/clarifications as needed.
- Maintain relevant tax tracking models and complete agreed tax reconciliations.
- Support wider tax planning activities and related documentation, as required.
About you
Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA or equivalent), with significant post-qualified experience in group reporting and statutory accounts.
Strong technical accounting capability and confident interpreting and applying relevant accounting standards.
Proven experience leading a year-end close, consolidation and external audit process in a multi-entity, international environment.
Solid understanding of balance sheet control, intercompany, fixed assets and key accounting estimates/judgements.
Experience coordinating with overseas finance teams and external advisors to deliver foreign statutory accounts and tax requirements.
Comfortable working across multiple deadlines and stakeholders; highly organised with strong attention to detail.
Clear communicator who can translate technical matters for non-technical stakeholders and partner effectively with senior leadership.
Proactive, pragmatic and improvement-focused, with experience improving processes/systems (NetSuite experience beneficial).
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the responsibilities this role. Other responsibilities may be added from time to day.
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