Group Financial Controller

An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a Group Financial Controller to join a thriving global sports and entertainment business at their Watford office. This is a pivotal role within the finance function, offering you the chance to take ownership of financial reporting, compliance, and performance insights across multiple regions.

What you'll do:

As Group Financial Controller based in Watford, you will play a crucial role in shaping the financial landscape of an expanding international business. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve preparing comprehensive management reports for various regions while collaborating closely with local teams to ensure accurate forecasting and insightful variance analysis. You will oversee contract reviews for technical compliance under US GAAP as well as commercial viability. Month-end processes will see you managing complex journal entries across multiple categories while maintaining rigorous balance sheet reconciliations. Your expertise will be called upon during audits where you will facilitate smooth transitions between different accounting standards. In addition to supporting operational teams with tax matters and ad hoc requests, you will work hand-in-hand with global colleagues on budgeting exercises that underpin strategic decision-making. By driving process improvements—particularly around automation—you will help future-proof the finance function against ongoing growth. Success in this role requires not only technical proficiency but also strong interpersonal skills as you partner with diverse stakeholders across time zones.

• Prepare and review monthly management reporting packs for multiple regions including North America, Sweden, and the UK, liaising with local finance teams and operational departments to understand variances and enhance reporting processes.
• Review all new contracts across US and Europe for both technical accounting implications under US GAAP as well as commercial considerations, ensuring compliance with relevant standards.
• Prepare and post month-end journals covering revenue recognition, cost of goods sold, freight, repairs & maintenance, commission accruals, legal costs, marketing expenses, and overheads.
• Conduct or review balance sheet account reconciliations on a monthly basis; investigate key differences and reconcile lease receivables back to the central lease accounting system used for group reporting.
• Collaborate with the FP&A team to support budget preparation and forecasting activities that align with actual results while providing clear variance analysis.
• Support operations teams with ad hoc tax queries and importer of record administration as well as other ad hoc projects required by the wider business.
• Assist external auditors by responding to audit queries related to group entities; perform necessary adjustments to convert financial statements from US GAAP into UK GAAP.
• Partner with sales, operations, legal, supply chain, and other stakeholders globally to provide guidance on financial implications of business decisions including expansion into new territories.
• Drive improvements in financial processes and internal controls to match increased activity levels resulting from business growth.
• Champion automation initiatives within finance systems such as SAP or Coupa to streamline workflows and improve data integrity.

What you bring:

To excel as Group Financial Controller you will bring a wealth of practical experience from both practice-based roles (ideally Big 4 or mid-tier) as well as commercial environments where you have managed end-to-end financial reporting cycles. Your background should include significant exposure to international accounting standards—particularly those governing leases—and an aptitude for navigating complex organisational structures. You are adept at leveraging technology (notably advanced Excel functions) alongside enterprise resource planning tools like SAP or Coupa. Your communication style is considerate yet persuasive; you can distil intricate financial information into actionable insights for colleagues outside the finance sphere. A history of driving process optimisation projects demonstrates your commitment to continuous improvement while your ability to remain responsive under pressure ensures deadlines are consistently met. Above all else you thrive when working collaboratively within diverse teams who share your passion for excellence.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates