Financial Controller - Shared Services

Howett-Thorpe Recruitment Consultants Limited; Wantage; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Office-based position 9:00–17:00

Company Car

Salary Exchange Pension Scheme

Non-Contributory Life Assurance

Private Medical Insurance

Group Income Protection

Job summary

Financial Controller – Shared Services role in a leading international business. You will own the Europe-wide controllership agenda, driving performance, transformation, and strong governance across multiple entities.

You will lead a team of 10–15, oversee end-to-end close, deliver insightful reporting, and partner with external auditors to ensure smooth audit cycles. A key focus is strengthening internal controls and embracing automation.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant with international experience (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS/US GAAP) and SOX controls.
• Proven controllership experience in a complex, multinational environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as the European lead for R2R, setting governance, control and best practice.
• Own integrity and completeness of financial reporting across entities.
• Lead balance sheet governance and proactive risk resolution.

Skills

Controllership experience

Financial reporting

IFRS / US GAAP knowledge

SOX controls

Automation / process improvement

Team leadership

Education

Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

OneStream

Excel

Job description

We're partnering with a leading international business to recruit a Financial Controller to join the controllership team within their European Shared Service Centre.

This is a high-impact, high-visibility role with a clear mandate: to transform and elevate controllership into a best-in‑class, insight‑led finance function. You'll be instrumental in shaping how finance supports a complex, multi‑entity European operation-moving from efficient delivery to true strategic value.

This is an opportunity to step into a role where your influence will be felt across the business. You'll lead change, enhance control, and develop a team capable of operating at a significantly higher level. If you're motivated by building, improving, and leading from the front, this role offers both challenge and genuine scope.

Financial Controller - Shared Services - Benefits

• 25 days annual leave
• 9:00 am - 17:00 - Office-based position
• Company Car
• 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 ownership of the controllership agenda across multiple European entities, driving both performance and transformation.

• Act as the European lead for R2R, setting the standard for governance, control, and best practice
• Own the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of financial reporting across all entities
• Lead balance sheet governance, ensuring risks are identified, understood, and resolved proactively
• Ensure alignment across management, statutory, and tax reporting frameworks
• Lead the end‑to‑end close process, driving quality, consistency, and reduced cycle times
• Create a "first‑time right" culture across journals, reconciliations, and reporting
• Oversee the delivery of clear, insightful reporting and meaningful performance analysis
• Lead the relationship with external auditors, ensuring smooth and efficient audit cycles
• Own and strengthen the control environment, including SOX compliance
• Lead, develop, and inspire a team of c.10-15, building capability & accountability
• Drive standardisation and optimisation of processes across European operations
• Identify and deliver efficiencies, improving close timelines and reporting quality
• Champion automation and the effective use of systems (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream)
• Act as a key link between Shared Services, local finance teams, and Group Finance

The successful Financial Controller - Shared Services will have:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
• Proven controllership experience within a complex, international environment
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS / US GAAP) and controls (SOX preferred)
• A track record of driving improvement, transformation, and team development
• Strong systems capability (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream or similar preferred)