Director, Group Financial Controller

Optimizely; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimizely is seeking a Group Financial Controller to lead global accounting, close, audit, and compliance across our multi-entity structure, elevating controls and automation.

You will head an international team across EMEA, North America, and APAC, drive IFRS readiness, and partner with FP&A and tax to deliver clear narratives and strategic insights.

This PE-backed SaaS business aims to scale with AI-enabled finance while maintaining strong governance and timely reporting.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with IFRS expertise (IFRS 15, 16, 2, 3).
• Proven track record leading statutory reporting and external audits across multiple regions.

Responsibilities

• Own global month-, quarter-, and year-end close across all entities.
• Lead external audits end-to-end for group and subsidiaries.
• Drive automation to shorten close cycles while maintaining controls.
• Partner with FP&A and treasury for coherent narratives and liquidity oversight.

Skills

IFRS expertise

Automation mindset

People leadership

Strategic finance

Audit coordination

Education

ACA/ACCA/CPA

Tools

NetSuite

Ledge

FloQast

BlackLine

Job description

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We're not here to add to the noise. We're here to cut through it- with AI that actually works for marketers.

From AI-powered content creation to world-class CMS and the industry's most trusted experimentation platform, Optimizely is the tool modern marketers actually want to use. AI-Ready. Set. Go.

10,000+ brands including H&M, PayPal, and Zoom already get it. So do Gartner, Forrester, and IDC, who consistently recognize us as leaders in MarTech.

But here's the thing about building great products: it takes great people. Our 1,600+ Optimizers across 12 global offices are curious, collaborative, and refreshingly human. We don't do corporate speak. We do real conversations, big ideas, and genuinely care for the work we make together.

If you want to be part of a team that's shaping the future of marketing technology — and actually enjoys doing it — you're in the right place.

Find us on Instagram: @optimizely

Introduction

The Group Financial Controller is a critical leadership role at the heart of Optimizely's Finance function. This is not a conventional controllership role. Yes, you'll own the technical accounting, the close, the audit, and the statutory and regulatory compliance across our global entity structure — but we're looking for someone who sees those as the floor, not the ceiling.

You'll lead an international team spanning group accounting and regional controllers across EMEA, North America, and APAC — bringing together the discipline of a rigorous control environment with the ambition to automate, modernise, and genuinely transform how close and reporting works at Optimizely.

You'll be a key partner to the Senior Director, Accounting and FP&A leadership, and a visible champion of AI-enabled finance across the business. If you're energised by the idea of building a best-in-class controllership function for a PE-backed SaaS business preparing for its next chapter as the AI platform for marketing — this is the role for you.

Job Responsibilities

• Own the global month-, quarter-, and year-end close process across all entities, driving a well-sequenced calendar.
• Oversee monthly regional and consolidated flux analysis; present key fluctuations, risks, and run-rate changes to finance leadership.
• Deliver accurate, audit-ready consolidated management accounts on time, partnering with FP&A for a coherent narrative.
• Oversee group statutory financial statements under IFRS.
• Continuously improve close timelines via automation while maintaining control.

Technical Accounting & IFRS Compliance

• Serve as in-house technical accounting authority on IFRS (IFRS 15, 16, 2, 3, IAS 36, etc.).
• Lead the transition to IFRS 18 (early adoption where possible), ensuring Chart of Accounts readiness.
• Prepare and review position papers on complex or judgmental accounting matters.
• Monitor and adopt new accounting standards, communicating impacts across finance.

Global Audit & Statutory Compliance

• Lead annual external audits end-to-end for the group and subsidiaries.
• Manage statutory filings across all jurisdictions, including UK, US, Sweden, UAE, Singapore, and Bangladesh.
• Ensure global regulatory and statutory compliance, proactively resolving risks.
• Maintain year-round audit readiness.

Regional Accounting Leadership

• Lead regional controllers across EMEA, North America, and APAC, driving accuracy and ownership.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and IFRS capability development.
• Ensure consistency in accounting policies, Chart of Accounts, and intercompany processes.
• Partner with revenue and shared services to ensure transactional accuracy.

AI Transformation & Process Automation

• Lead adoption of AI and automation tools (close automation, reconciliations, flux analysis, journal reviews).
• Evaluate, pilot, and scale finance tech solutions to reduce manual effort and accelerate insights.
• Partner with Head of Finance AI Transformation to embed tooling while maintaining strong controls.
• Cultivate a tech-curious team culture that challenges traditional close processes.
• Support design and operating effectiveness of the global accounting controls framework.
• Drive prompt remediation of audit deficiencies and identify emerging risks.
• Maintain robust intercompany processes, clean eliminations, and transfer pricing consistency.
• Support lender reporting, covenant tracking, and PE sponsor requirements.

Treasury Management

• Own cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning, maintaining visibility on headroom.
• Provide accounting oversight for FX exposure, hedging, and intercompany movements.

Exit Readiness & Strategic Support

• Maintain transaction-ready standards (IPO, trade sale, or secondary) with clean audit trails.
• Provide financial accounting input for M&A diligence, carve-outs, and integration.
• Partner with Tax and Legal on entity rationalization, cash repatriation, and hedging.

How Success is Measured

• Close Cadence: On-schedule month-end close, zero material post-close adjustments, and timely CFO packs.
• Audit Outcomes: On-time audits with no significant findings.
• Statutory Compliance: All entity filings completed on time with zero regulatory escalations.
• Team Capability: Increased technical depth and strong execution across regional teams.
• Automation Impact: Measurable reduction in close effort and improved control quality via AI.
• Control Environment: Effective controls operating across entities with no repeat findings.
• Exit Readiness: Transaction-ready financial records at all times.

Knowledge and Experience

• 10+ years in accounting or controllership, with at least 2 years in a senior group or regional controller role within a complex, multi-entity international business.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent) with strong IFRS technical accounting knowledge — particularly IFRS 15, IFRS 16, IFRS 2, IAS 36, and IAS 21.
• Proven track record managing statutory reporting and external audit across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.
• Past audit experience, ideally at a top 10 firm, preferred.
• Experience in PE-backed SaaS or high-growth technology businesses is strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with NetSuite or a comparable ERP is essential; familiarity with close automation platforms (Ledge, FloQast, BlackLine) and AI-enabled finance tooling is a strong differentiator.

Skills and capabilities

• Exceptional technical accounting judgment — you can form a clear, defensible view on complex IFRS questions and communicate it simply to non-technical stakeholders.
• A genuine enthusiasm for automation and AI in finance — you've moved beyond the theory and have practical experience piloting or implementing tools that made a measurable difference.
• Strong people leadership — you know how to build a high-performing, distributed accounting team and develop individuals who want to grow.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to connect accounting outcomes to business performance — you're not just a technician, you understand the business you're in.
• High attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture; you hold the line on quality without creating bottlenecks.
• Clear, confident communicator — you can brief the CFO, manage an audit partner, and coach a junior accountant in the same day.

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent) is required.

Optimizely is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Optimizely is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.