We’re partnering with a leading international business to recruit a Financial Controller that will embed into the controllership team that forms part of their European Shared Service Centre.
This is a high-profile role with a clear mandate: transform and elevate the function into a best-in-class, insight-led finance operation. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how finance supports a complex, multi-entity European business moving from transactional delivery to true value-add.
If you’re looking for a role where you can drive change, influence senior stakeholders, and build a high-performing team, this is a standout opportunity.
Financial Controller – Shared Services – Benefits
- 25 days Paid holidays
- Salary Exchange Pension scheme
- Non Contributory Life Assurance
- Private Medical Insurance
- Group Income protection
Financial Controller – Shared Services – About The Role
Reporting to the Director of European Shared Services, you will take full ownership of the controllership agenda across multiple European entities:
Controllership & Financial Leadership
- Act as the European controllership lead for R2R, ensuring strong governance, consistency and best practice
- Take accountability for the integrity, accuracy and completeness of financial records
- Own balance sheet governance, including reconciliations, reviews, risk identification and issue resolution
- Oversee accruals, provisions, estimate), ensuring robust documentation and review
- Ensure alignment between management, statutory and tax reporting
Financial Close & Day-to-Day Delivery
- Lead the end-to-end close process (month, quarter, year-end), ensuring deadlines are met with high quality output
- Manage day-to-day operations within the Controllership team, setting priorities and resolving escalations
- Review journals, reconciliations and reporting packs, ensuring a “first-time right” approach
- Drive consistency and discipline across multiple entities and reporting lines
- Deliver insightful monthly reporting, variance analysis and performance commentary
Audit, Compliance & Controls
- Own the relationship with external auditors, leading audit planning, execution and issue resolution
- Ensure ongoing SOX compliance and a robust internal control environment
- Drive a culture of continuous audit readiness and proactive risk management
- Strengthen and embed financial controls across all processes
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team (c.10–15 FTE), both direct and indirect
- Set clear objectives, KPIs and service levels across the function
- Upskill the team from transactional processing to true financial control and analysis
- Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and service excellence
Process Improvement & Transformation
- Drive the standardisation and optimisation of processes across Europe
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce close cycle time and enhance reporting quality
- Champion automation and better use of systems (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream)
- Play a key role in ongoing finance transformation and system enhancement initiatives
Stakeholder & Business Partnering
- Act as a key interface between Shared Services, local finance teams and Group Finance
- Partner with operational and finance stakeholders to improve reporting and support decision-making
- Translate complex accounting issues into clear, actionable insights
- Promote the SSC as a value-adding, customer-focused finance function
The successful Financial Controller – Shared Services will have:
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
- Strong controllership background with ownership of financial reporting and close processes
- Experience in a complex, multi-entity, international environment
- Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS / US GAAP) and controls (SOX preferred)
- Hands-on leader, comfortable operating both strategically and at detail level
- Proven track record of process improvement, transformation and team development
- Strong systems experience (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream or similar preferred)
Howett Thorpe are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role and comply with all relevant UK legislation and do not discriminate on any protected characteristics. Due to the high volume of applications we currently receive, we are unable to respond to all candidates. If you do not hear from a Consultant within 5 working days, please assume that you have not been successful.
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