Finance Manager - EMEA

Farnell Global; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

25 days holiday + bank holidays with 1

Onsite parking

Onsite gym

Flexible hybrid working

EV car scheme

Job summary

Farnell Global in Leeds, part of Avnet, seeks a Finance Manager – EMEA to ensure integrity of accounting across European entities, oversee month‑end close, and strengthen margin, balance sheet governance and internal controls. The role combines technical accounting with hands‑on leadership, requiring ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent and experience across IFRS and US GAAP reporting.

Hybrid arrangement, three days in office.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent.
• Significant experience in financial accounting and controllership.
• Strong IFRS knowledge and US GAAP reporting experience.
• Experience managing multiple legal entities and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end, quarter-end and year-end close across entities.
• Ensure IFRS reporting and US GAAP group consolidation.
• Review journal entries, accruals and provisions.
• Manage balance sheet review and intercompany reconciliations.
• Drive margin accounting and cost optimisation.
• Lead and develop a finance team and coordinate with overseas BPO.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

IFRS knowledge

US GAAP knowledge

Inventory accounting

Audit coordination

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Farnell

Farnell, an Avnet company, is a global high-service distributor of technology products, services and solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair.

Farnell

Farnell, an Avnet company, is a global high-service distributor of technology products, services and solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair.

Finance Manager – EMEA

Location: Leeds

Department: Farnell Global - Finance

Reports to: Senior Finance Manager - EMEA

Role Purpose

Our team in Leeds, West Yorkshire, is looking for a Finance Manager – EMEA. This is a newly created role, responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of financial accounting across multiple European legal entities, of c.$800m revenue. The role is instrumental in overseeing month‑end close and will also focus on gross margin accounting, balance sheet governance and key financial (SOx) control compliance. This position will lead efforts to strengthen financial controls, improve balance sheet reconciliation quality, drive process efficiencies, and identify opportunities to enhance profitability and reporting effectiveness. The role combines technical accounting expertise with a practical, hands‑on approach to operational finance and continuous improvement. This is a flexible, hybrid working role, giving you the work‑life balance to work from the office (three days) and from home (two days). We are looking for a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with managerial expertise and ideally who has experience of inventory and Gross Margin accounting. This role is for an inquisitive and highly organised individual who can work collaboratively as part of a busy team and build strong relationships with wider stakeholders.

Along with offering a competitive salary package, what's in it for you?

• A supportive team environment where everyone is working toward the same goal.


• A strong open‑door policy within management


• An environment where you will be given the tools and opportunities to further your career


• Pension scheme


• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional holiday


• FREE Onsite Parking & FREE Onsite Gym


• Flexible hybrid working


• Reward schemes – i.e. EV Car Scheme

What will you be doing?

Financial Accounting

• Lead the month-end, quarter-end and year-end close processes across multiple legal entities.


• Ensure accurate and timely reporting under IFRS and compliance with US GAAP reporting requirements for group consolidation.


• Review and approve journal entries, accruals, provisions and accounting adjustments.


• Review monthly financial results and investigate significant variances.


• Support the preparation of external audit deliverables.


• Ensure compliance with group accounting policies and reporting timetables.

Financial Control and Balance Sheet Governance

• Manage the balance sheet review process across all entities.


• Drive improvements in balance sheet reconciliation quality, timeliness and substantiation.


• Establish robust governance around high‑risk and judgemental accounting areas.


• Review aged, unusual or unreconciled balance sheet items and ensure timely resolution.


• Develop and implement action plans to improve balance sheet health and reduce financial risk.


• Ensure intercompany balances are reconciled and resolved promptly.

Margin Accounting

• Responsible for ensuring accurate monthly gross margin accounting


• Working with the wider business on inventory and gross margin items, owning resolutions from a Finance and accounting perspective


• Review financial information to identify opportunities for margin improvement and cost optimisation.


• Challenge accounting and operational processes that negatively impact profitability.


• Support initiatives that improve financial visibility and decision‑making.

SOx and Internal Controls

• Execute and review key SOx controls within the month‑end close process.


• Maintain documentation supporting key financial controls and accounting processes.


• Partner with Compliance, External Reporting and external auditors during control and year end testing activities.


• Identify control deficiencies and implement appropriate remediation plans.


• Promote a strong control environment and culture of accountability across the finance team.

Process Improvement and Efficiency

• Identify opportunities to simplify and standardise accounting processes across entities.


• Drive automation and reduction of manual activities.


• Lead initiatives to improve close‑cycle efficiency and reporting quality.


• Support finance transformation and continuous improvement projects.


• Develop meaningful KPIs around close performance, reconciliation quality and control effectiveness.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a small accounting team, providing coaching and technical guidance.


• Working daily with our overseas BPO team to assist with resolution of escalations


• Set clear objectives and performance expectations.


• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and collaboration.


• Support succession planning and team capability development.

What about you?

Essential

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).


• Significant experience in financial accounting, controllership or accounting management roles.


• Strong knowledge of IFRS.


• Strong balance sheet management and reconciliation expertise.


• Experience reviewing manual journal entries and accounting controls.


• Proven ability to improve accounting processes and strengthen financial controls.


• Experience managing multiple legal entities.


• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.


• Advanced Excel and financial systems experience.

Desirable

• Experience within a multinational organisation.


• Experience working within a US‑listed organisation or reporting into a US GAAP parent company.


• Experience operating in a SOX‑controlled environment.


• Shared service centre and global process experience.


• Experience leading finance transformation initiatives.


• Knowledge of audit and regulatory compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

Success Measures

• Timely and accurate month‑end close.


• High‑quality balance sheet reconciliations with minimal aged items.


• Successful execution of SOX controls and audit requirements.


• Reduction in manual accounting activities.


• Improved month‑end close‑cycle efficiency.


• Identification and delivery of margin enhancement opportunities.


• Strong compliance with IFRS, US GAAP reporting requirements and company policies.


• Development and engagement of the accounting team.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills.

Avnet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.