Financial Controller - Europe

Sazerac Company; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the spirits industry seeks a Financial Controller to guide accounting and financial controls while supporting the Finance Director in EMEA. The role ensures compliance with relevant statutory requirements and provides critical analysis for decision-making. Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree, relevant qualifications, and extensive experience in accounting, with strong skills in relationship building and process efficiency improvement.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in accounting or corporate finance.
• Experience in IFRS and US GAAP reporting standards.
• Progressive experience in a financial control role.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly performance reporting, cash flow analysis, and budgeting.
• Oversee compliance with statutory and tax requirements.
• Manage and coach a finance team of two.

Skills

Organizational Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Attention to Detail

Proactive Work Ethic

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or equivalent

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent)

Tools

Oracle or comparable ERP system

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Sazerac Company Overview

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double-digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Traveller, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Svedka, Wheatley, BuzzBallz, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka.

Company/Location Overview

UK - Kingston

Job Description/Responsibilities

This role reports directly to the Chief Accounting Officer and supports the Finance Director EMEA, collaboratively managing accounting, financial controls, financial and cash planning. It is the primary contact to the Corporate Sazerac finance team (based in the US) and the global shared services center for accounts receivable and accounts payable.

The Financial Controller is a key accounting and finance role to lead the Europe businesses to ensure compliance with all relevant statutory, tax, and legal requirements and provide timely insightful analysis to support decision-making in order to reach financial performance and growth targets.

Key Responsibilities and Critical Success Factors:

• Report monthly performance across the group, including profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flows in line with Sazerac corporate reporting standards.
• Support the Finance Director with the budgeting and forecasting process.
• Lead/facilitate the preparation of European entity year-end statutory accounts under IFRS.
• Liaise with external auditors throughout the consolidated and statutory audit process.
• Support the preparation of Alcohol Duty, VAT, Intrastat, and corporation tax submissions.
• Account for transfer pricing.
• Review and report cash positions, including short and long-term cash flow analysis.
• Review the development and impact of international accounting standards IFRS and US GAAP on processes and reporting requirements.
• Responsible for the financial internal controls, including ensuring monthly balance sheet reconciliations are completed timely and accurately.
• Complete technical accounting reviews with the assistance of the Finance Director and Chief Accounting Officer.
• Work with other members of the finance team to develop analytical reports and presentations to non-finance heads of departments.
• Own the financial integrity and accuracy of transactional processing, intercompany transactions, consolidation, and reporting.
• Assist with the development of systems and initiatives for any new entities, ensuring financial controls are maintained and support the ability to report in a timely manner.
• Identify and implement opportunities to scale efficiencies and new ways of working across multiple projects.
• Manage and coach two direct reports, conducting regular performance and development discussions and promoting the Sazerac culture.
• Ad hoc projects as required.

Qualifications/Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or an equivalent related field.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent).
• 8+ years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, or equivalent.
• Progressive experience, including in a financial control role and managing a team.
• Experience in IFRS reporting standards (US GAAP advantageous).
• Experience with tax matters (Duty advantageous).
• Experience with Oracle or a comparable ERP system.
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office suite products, i.e., Excel and PowerPoint.

Personal Characteristics:

• Positive and proactive work ethic with a ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Ability to build strong relationships within finance and non-finance across several geographies.
• Good organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proactive in seeking and suggesting ways to improve process/system efficiency.
• Natural curiosity with the ability to operate in both detail and high-level contexts.

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