Graduate Business Manager / Finance Regional Controller

Business Manager/ Finance Regional Controller

Based in Surbiton

Salary: £50,000 - £70,000 per annum plus 10% bonus + generous benefits package
Full time Permanent role

This is a fantastic opportunity foan ambitious graduate with 5 + years finance experience who does not want to pigeon-hole themselves within finance and is keen to progress to a commercial management role as part of the leadership team

Our client, a well-known brand and a prestigious global organisation is recruiting a Regional Controller for Northern Europe with potential to develop into a general Business Manager as work as part of the leadership based in the UK.

The purpose of this role is to advise on regional business operations and provide management support to deliver the Northern Europe business strategies.

To deliver financial analyses and reports within the guidelines of the organization and operating company level.

Act as main point of contact for local business for Finance, Accounting and Tax issues, ensuring compliance with regulatory responsibilities.

Liaise with the Financial Centre of Excellence (FCoE) for control and production of financial reporting and with European headquarters (EU HQ) for financial planning and reporting

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnering

• Act as a local business partner for other departments and third parties on financial, accounting and tax issues
• Liaise with local functional heads and make financial recommendations in order to deliver desired commercial outcomes
• Hold local functional heads accountable for adhering to agreed budgets and optimise returns on investment
• Understand and explain financial context to the senior management team
• Drive business strategy by providing financial information allowing the senior management team to make more informed financial decisions
• Forecast and project future business performance and expenditure
• Provide both periodic and ad hoc reports, in accordance with the approved formats and the wishes of the management, to provide the regional management with all relevant management information.

Financial Responsibilities

• Regional Management Reporting & Budget Coordination
• Communicate the consolidation financial statement (IFRS) to regional management to support operational decision making process
• Lead quantitative and qualitative analytical work to explain the variance between Actual and Budget/Forecast figures
• Support the submission on time and in quality of Budget and Forecast (revised) versions for cosolidated P&L
• Provide liaision and comply with local statutory reporting requirements and local Tax and Statistical filings on local GAAP, CIT, VAT, analysis of Flash Margins and assist of Transfer Pricing details
• Review accounting entries monthly to ensure of completeness and accuracy of the general accounts
• Act as back-up for local accounts receivable and coordinator for local order-tocash issues
• Act as back-up for monthly payroll
• Review branch cash postion with EU Treasury (cash pooling)
• Work in cooperation wth EU HQ and FcoE
• Assist in loalJSOX compliance
• Liaise on conduct of local stock counts
• Manage relationships with local financial partners, and local (Tax) government
• Support on local audit and DIVA reporting
• Liaise between local business and the FcoE on Fixed Assers, Right-Use Assets, Accrual of Sales Deductions, FA, AR and Inventory write downs/impairments
• Provide local VAT knowledge support to local businesses and EU HQ/FCoE
• Liaise with the FCoE on the financial administration
• Maintain contact with external accountant and ensure timely audit of all administration
• Ensuring the timely submission and processing of tax returns
• Monitor liquid assets, including by ensuring that outstanding receivables are collected on time and excess liquidities on projects are deposited in a timely manner, in accordance with operating standards
• Provide insight into and manage general financial risks, considering the applicable guidelines, to prevent these risks from having a negative impact on the corporate objectives
• Monitoring company-related costs within the guidelines of the operating company so that a covering result on company-related costs can be guaranteed

Compliance

• Monitor and comply with the corporate governance and integrity guidelines and the local organisation, with the aim of guaranteeing the accuracy and legality of financial reporting
• Supervise financial data processing regarding the business in accordance with company guidelines in such a way that reliable insight (both current and forecast) into the financial situation and the project risks and opportunities can be always obtained
• Ensure the correct implementation of legal regulations in the financial and administrative areas so that not only efficient, but also lawful administration is conducted

Person Specification

• Degree educated - holds a degree in any discipline from a top university
• CIMA/ACCA/ACA qualification
• 5 years experience within a similar role
• JSox experience ideal
• Business partnering expertise or an Interest in business partnering
• A confident communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Possesses strong business acumen with a good understanding of business management and business
• Previous experience with project management and people management
• A natural leader who enjoys responsibility and is keen to develop a long-term career within the organisation.
• A flexible approach - happy to travel as part of the role to partner offices based in Poland, Amsterdam and Sweden.