Are you an experienced Group Financial Controller looking for your next challenge?
We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced finance professional to join SNG as Group Financial Controller on a permanent basis. You'll be responsible for leading the Financial Accounting and Control processes, acting as custodian of Financial Regulations and accounting policies across Sovereign Network Group (SNG).
Based from our office in Basingstoke, you'll combine office and home working to ensure a positive work / life balance. There may be some travel required to our office in Wembley.
It's a really exciting time to join us as Sovereign have joined forces with Network Homes to form SNG. Together we provide over 84,000 homes and invest in communities across London and the South of England.
The Role
This is a key role within the business where you'll bring your technical accounting knowledge and expertise to the forefront, as well as building effective relationships across the business and providing strong leadership to develop and coach a high performing team. You'll encourage innovation to deliver better ways of working and proactively drive for efficiencies across the wider organisation.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading the team responsible for all consolidated statutory accounts and providing key financial entity reporting and analysis, including SNG's annual financial statements, Statistical returns and any Housing Regulator returns
- Leading on the provision of comprehensive insight and analysis across SNG into the effect of upcoming legislation /accounting changes for decision making, impact on financial systems and transactional processing areas
- Ensuring the general ledger Chart of Accounts (CoA) is fit for purpose to capture and report financial information for statutory, regulatory and management requirements
- Managing the annual external audit plan and timetable with SNG's group auditors ensuring clear roles and responsibilities across SNG stakeholders
- Driving the ongoing refinement and execution of SNG's Financial Accounting policies, ensuring robust financial controls are in place to mitigate financial risks and comply with accounting standards and regulatory requirements
- Proactively liaising with senior stakeholders across SNG to offer strategic and technical accounting advice and influence, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations
- Responsibility for SNGs Fixed Asset Register, overseeing approximately £7bn worth of assets, ensuring rigorous key controls and processes are in place, tailored to meet the evolving needs of the organisation
- Leading, inspiring and developing a team of accountants providing direction and coaching to support their personal development
What we're looking for
You'll need demonstrable experience in a similar financial controller role at a senior level, with a track record of leading and developing high performing teams in a large complex working environment. Experience in Housing is preferred, though this isn't essential.
- You'll be a Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent Post Graduate accounting qualification), with significant post qualification experience
- Thorough understanding of relevant legislation and accounting principles applicable to the Housing Sector, such as FRS 102 and SORP
- Excellent working knowledge of external and internal financial reporting cycles, including Year End statutory report preparation, and other financial information for regulatory returns and analysis
- Experience of leading change and Finance transformation activities to deliver better ways of working and improving efficiencies
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships at all levels
- You'll be highly numerate with strong IT skills including MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
- Knowledge and experience in using Agresso/Unit 4 accounting system or similar is preferred, and finance system transformation would be advantageous
We have some fantastic benefits on offer at SNG, including:
- £450 flex-pot annually, discounted shopping & cycling scheme
- 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (with an extra day every year up to 30 days)
- Generous matched pension scheme (up to 12%), life cover at 4x your salary
- Access to a range of wellbeing benefits, including 24/7 virtual GP service
- Flexible working - we're committed to giving people flexibility as widely as possible
- Options for private medical insurance, dental insurance & critical illness cover
We are committed to our Equality Diversity and Inclusion strategy and believe that you can truly be yourself at SNG. Take a look at our careers site to learn more about us and our values.
It's an exciting time to be joining SNG as we continue through our transformation journey and work towards achieving the goals in our ambitious corporate plans. If you're looking for a new opportunity, then we'd love to hear from you!