Group Internal Controls & Governance Manager

If you are ambitious, self‑motivated, hardworking and a team player and interested in growing your career with an International FMCG business, please read through our job opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

1. Internal Controls Management

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the organization’s internal controls framework for key financial and operational processes.
• Manage and update Risk and Control Matrices (RACMs) to reflect process, system, and business changes and identify any process / control deviations etc.
• Identify, document and deploy any localised RACMs to specific jurisdictions (only where needed).
• Create and manage a centralised controls repository – including RACMs, Process flows, Testing scripts, test results, SOPs, etc.
• Coordinate with the SAP S/4HANA programme team to ensure a successful implementation of the newly developed internal control framework, alongside each wave of the system roll‑out.
• Identify control gaps arising from different sources – eg management, Internal Audit, etc (eg for any observed process/ control deviations) and coordinate remediation with relevant stakeholders, ensuring the risks related to control gaps are adequately and proportionately addressed by the next relevant reporting date
• Provide guidance and training to process owners and control performers on control requirements and documentation standards.

2. Governance of Policies & Processes

• Establish, maintain, and enforce governance over finance and related key Group functional/business processes, including standardized documentation (policies, procedures, work instructions).
• Facilitate process and control ownership and accountability across business units by communicating and monitoring control owner / operator responsibilities and expectations.
• Ensure alignment of process governance with expected internal control, corporate risk management, audit, and compliance standards.
• Monitor segregation of duties across the organizational process structure and approve any new system access requests.
• Monitor and report on relevant KPIs for process efficiency, compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Controls assurance reporting to management (FLT, ExCo, etc) and Audit & Risk Committee, as required.

3. Post-Implementation S/4HANA Finance Support

• Act as a permanent “Business Process Owner” representative for finance-related processes post‑implementation. Manage change communication with control operators / owners
• Act as 1st stage gatekeeper and an effective filter for finance related system / process change requests. Coordinate with GIS and process owners to assess and resolve system/process issues and qualify / manage change requests.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives leveraging S/4HANA functionality, analytics, and automation capabilities, to drive future improvements in process/control effectiveness and efficiency.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Work closely with Finance, GIS/IT, Divisional teams and Central functions – as well as with external audit and Internal Audit to ensure a coordinated approach to controls and governance.
• Provide subject matter expertise for relevant finance/internal control‑related queries, audits, and reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to process owners, guiding them through governance, controls, and system utilization best practices.
• Develop risk‑based testing approach and design internal control sampling methodology aligned with external auditor expectations and management’s own risk appetite. Could include self‑assessment (if considered appropriate) for a selection of controls.
• Monitor the effectiveness of controls through testing, reviews, and exception reporting.
• Oversee controls assurance programme/process (as approved by management and discussed with external auditors) to ensure controls are operating effectively on an agreed cyclical basis – via an annual governance calendar for reviews, attestations (e.g self‑assessments) and audits.

Required Skills & Experience

Education & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional certification preferred (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIA, CISA, or similar).

Experience:

• Extensive experience in internal controls, finance governance, audit, or process management.
• Experience with SAP S/4HANA preferred (preferably post‑implementation environment).
• Familiarity with RACM management and internal controls frameworks (COSO or equivalent).
• Experience in process documentation and governance frameworks.
• Proven ability to bridge finance, IT, and operational stakeholders.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of end‑to‑end finance processes (P2P, O2C, R2R, IM, etc.).
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and process improvement skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to work autonomously while managing multiple priorities.

Key Success Measures

• RACMs are up to date, complete, and aligned with current processes and risks.
• Governance forums and process reviews occur on schedule with actionable outputs.
• Post‑S4HANA processes are stable, efficient, and well‑documented.
• Reduction in control deficiencies and audit findings.
• High stakeholder satisfaction with process governance and support.

Group Internal Controls & Governance Manager • Manchester

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