Director of Group Financial Control

Wade Macdonald; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Wade Macdonald is assisting a Reading-based, hybrid-allowed global logistics and distribution group to appoint a Director of Group Financial Control. The role leads the Group's financial control, consolidations and external audit, partnering with CFO and international teams to drive robust governance and strategic insight.

You will oversee technical accounting, tax, and system transformation, delivering timely, accurate information and enabling scalable growth across regions.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with senior finance leadership in an international environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK GAAP and IFRS.
• Experience in financial control, technical accounting, and internal controls.
• Expertise in acquisitions and finance systems.
• Proven ability to lead change and build teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Group financial control function.
• Own year-end reporting, Group consolidation and audit.
• Provide technical accounting guidance across the Group.
• Support accounting for acquisitions and integrations.
• Ensure management receives timely, relevant financial information.
• Translate financial and performance findings into actionable improvements.
• Oversee tax compliance and reporting for the Group.
• Lead the finance workstream for ERP implementation.
• Enhance financial reporting systems and consolidation solution.
• Strengthen internal controls and segregation of duties.
• Develop Group accounting policies and accounting manual.
• Collaborate with Group finance, country leadership and the executive team.

Skills

Senior finance leadership

UK GAAP & IFRS

Financial control

Technical accounting

Internal controls

Acquisitions experience

Finance systems

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Qualified accountant (ACCA/ACA/ICAEW)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Director of Group Financial Control

Location: Reading (Hybrid)
Salary: £110,000 - £135,000

About the Client

Our client is a growing international organisation operating within Logistics / Distribution / Supply Chain, with operations across multiple countries and an increasingly complex group structure.

With continued growth comes an exciting period of development across the finance function. They are looking to strengthen group-level financial governance, systems and reporting while creating greater consistency across their international operations.

Their culture is centred around collaboration, accountability and strong relationships, with an emphasis on empowering teams and delivering meaningful improvements across the organisation.

About the Job

Reporting directly to the CFO, the Director of Group Financial Control will take ownership of financial control across the Group, developing a high-performing function that combines robust governance and compliance with a pragmatic, commercially aware approach.

This is a broad senior leadership position covering group reporting, technical accounting, tax, audit, controls and systems transformation. You will work closely with senior leadership and finance teams internationally, acting as a trusted adviser while improving the processes, systems and controls that underpin the organisation's continued growth.

Duties will include:

• Leading and developing the Group financial control function, creating an engaged and high-performing team.
• Taking ownership of year-end reporting, Group consolidation and the external audit process.
• Providing technical accounting expertise and guidance across the organisation.
• Supporting accounting requirements arising from acquisitions and subsequent business integration.
• Ensuring management receives accurate, relevant and timely financial information.
• Reviewing financial and operational performance and translating findings into practical actions.
• Supporting investor reporting and providing insight into the different commercial drivers across the Group.
• Leading the finance workstream associated with the implementation of a new ERP platform.
• Supporting improvements to financial reporting systems, including the introduction of a consolidation solution.
• Overseeing Group insurance arrangements, transfer pricing and associated processes.
• Managing Group tax compliance and reporting while supporting finance teams within individual countries.
• Identifying opportunities to simplify, automate and improve finance processes and reporting.
• Strengthening the internal control framework across the Group, including appropriate segregation of responsibilities.
• Developing and embedding consistent Group accounting policies and an accounting manual.
• Building effective relationships across Group finance, country leadership and the executive team.

About the Successful Applicant

You will be a qualified accountant with significant senior finance leadership experience gained within an international environment and strong knowledge of UK GAAP and IFRS. You will bring expertise across financial control, technical accounting, internal controls, acquisitions and finance systems, alongside experience of leading change and developing teams. Commercially astute and highly analytical, you will be a collaborative communicator who can operate effectively with senior stakeholders while remaining hands-on when required.

What You Will Receive in Return

This is an opportunity to join an international organisation at an important stage in its development and take genuine ownership of the Group financial control agenda.

Working closely with the CFO and senior leadership team, you will have significant scope to shape the finance function, strengthen its infrastructure and influence how the organisation operates as it continues to grow.

The position offers exposure across international operations, acquisitions, systems transformation and senior stakeholder relationships, alongside the opportunity to build and develop a high-performing finance team.