Job Title: Group Retail Financial Controller
As the Group Retail Financial Controller, you will be responsible for overseeing the financial operations, teams, and reporting across our client's retail markets. This pivotal role involves ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting, maintaining regulatory compliance, and upholding the high standards of the local finance teams. You'll be a strategic leader, skilled in operational finance, and adept at managing teams to drive results.
Location:
Based in Dorset, with a requirement to be in the office 2-3 days per week and full-time availability during month-end close.
Key Responsibilities:
- Team Leadership & Development:
Manage, recruit, and train financial controllers and managers across the UK, Europe, and globally.
- Monthly Financial Reporting:
Collaborate with senior team members to prepare monthly consolidated Retail P&L commentary, highlighting key sales and profitability variances, while delivering valuable market insights to the leadership team.
- Market Performance Review:
Conduct market-by-market reviews of retail management accounts, including P&L, Balance Sheet, Capex, and Cashflow. Ensure a thorough analysis of actuals, forecast changes, and commentaries.
- Best Practice Implementation:
Drive the adoption of best practices across markets, focusing on improving reporting quality, streamlining financial processes, and leveraging technology to enhance financial operations.
- Financial Guidance & Compliance:
Provide accounting and reporting guidance to local teams, ensuring consistent adherence to standards and compliance with all financial regulations, tax laws, and corporate policies.
- Forecasting & Budgeting:
Collaborate with senior management to coordinate sales forecast updates, annual budgets, and ad hoc financial modelling, ensuring accurate reflection in the chart of accounts.
- Intercompany Transactions:
Review the impact of intercompany transactions, such as stock, purchases, cost of goods, and internal pricing, ensuring accuracy and alignment with overall financial goals.
- Sales & Admin Cost Analysis:
Analyse and report on Sales & Admin costs within retail entities, identifying opportunities for profit growth and presenting findings to key stakeholders.
- Compliance & Accountability:
Ensure clear accountability in each market for compliance with relevant financial regulations, offering support where needed to drive improvement.
- Finance Business Partnering:
Promote the UK's best practice model for finance business partnering and operational support to local finance teams.
- Tax & Audit Support:
Work closely with Group Tax and Audit managers to support tax, audit, and statutory reporting requirements.
Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise:
- Qualifications:
Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
- Industry Experience:
Strong background in high-volume, vertically integrated retail and digital operations.
- Leadership & Management:
Proven managerial experience within retail finance teams.
- Technology & Systems:
Experience working with retail systems, with a passion for leveraging technology and automation to drive process improvements.
- Communication Skills:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in translating financial information for non-financial stakeholders.
- Analytical & Reporting:
Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, with the ability to create compelling presentations in Google Slides.
- Collaboration & Relationship Building:
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to quickly build relationships and work collaboratively across teams.
- Travel Requirements:
Willingness to travel internationally as needed.
- Language Skills:
Foreign language skills are a bonus but not essential.
This role is ideal for a strategic and hands-on financial leader looking to make a significant impact in a dynamic retail environment.
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