Group Controls Accountant

Halfords Careers; Redditch; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Employee discounts

Pension

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Halfords is recruiting a Group Controls Accountant to strengthen the internal control framework and support the ICFR program. You will work with the Risk & Control team, partnering with stakeholders to embed robust financial controls across a FTSE 250 group.

The role offers hybrid working with two days per week at Redditch, and exposure across Finance, Technology, Risk and Internal Audit. A press for continuous improvement and governance excellence is expected.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant or auditor with ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIA or equivalent.
• Experience in financial controls, internal audit, risk management, governance, or financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of SOX, ICFR, or similar controls frameworks and UK Corporate Governance.
• Experience identifying control weaknesses and supporting remediation activities.

Responsibilities

• Support development, assessment and monitoring of Provision 29 compliance with ICFR.
• Perform controls testing and assurance, evidence of control effectiveness.
• Identify deficiencies, assess risk, support remediation tracking.
• Partner with process owners to improve controls and streamline workflows.
• Prepare documentation, reporting and MI for senior stakeholders and audits.
• Support risk assessments and wider controls transformation initiatives.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Organised

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIA qualification

Professional accountancy qualification

Job description

Job no: 567784
Work type: Full time
Site: Redditch
Categories: Finance
Location: West Midlands

About us

At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience, from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment.

The teams at our Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly.

If you're willing to get stuck in, you'll love it here too. So put yourself at the heart of a dynamic, fast-paced working environment where expertise and focus take people far.

The role

As a Group Controls Accountant, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening and embedding Halfords' financial control environment as we prepare for our first attestation under Provision 29 of the UK Corporate Governance Code. A key focus of the role will be supporting the design, implementation and ongoing operation of our Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework. Working within the Risk & Control team, you will partner with stakeholders across the business to ensure our control environment is robust, effective, and capable of supporting the needs of a complex FTSE 250 organisation.

Reporting to the Group Controls Manager, you'll lead on Financial Controls whilst supporting broader controls, risk, and remediation activities across the organisation. You'll perform controls testing, assess control effectiveness, identify gaps, and work closely with stakeholders to implement practical improvements that enhance governance without creating unnecessary complexity. This role offers exposure across Finance, Technology, Risk, Internal Audit, and wider business functions.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining technical controls knowledge with stakeholder engagement and process improvement. With significant focus on continuing to strengthen the control environment, you'll have the chance to influence how controls operate across the Group, work with senior stakeholders, and make a visible impact on an important strategic programme.

Key responsibilities

• Support the ongoing development, assessment, and monitoring of the Group's Provision 29 compliance requirements along with Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework
• Perform controls testing and assurance activities, providing evidence of control effectiveness and identifying areas requiring remediation
• Identify control deficiencies, assess associated risks, and support the implementation and tracking of remediation plans
• Partner with process owners to improve controls, streamline workflows, and enhance operational efficiency while maintaining appropriate governance
• Prepare clear and accurate documentation, reporting, and management information for senior stakeholders, Internal Audit, and External Audit
• Support risk assessments, balance sheet reconciliation quality reviews, and wider controls transformation initiatives across the business

About you

• Qualified accountant or auditor (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA, MCIIA, or equivalent)
• Experience within financial controls, internal audit, risk management, governance, or financial reporting environments
• Good understanding of internal control frameworks such as SOX, ICFR, or similar controls-based environments, alongside knowledge of UK Corporate Governance requirements
• Experience identifying control weaknesses and supporting the delivery of effective remediation activities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret information, assess risk, and recommend practical solutions
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, comfortable working with colleagues at all levels across the business
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment
• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave
• Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations
• We offer hybrid working with a blend of working in our Support Centre and from home
• You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services
• Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords

Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.

Halfords operates a Hybrid working policy with this position bring based 2 days per week at our Support Centre in Redditch, West Midlands.

As a Group Controls Accountant at Halfords, you'll play a key role in strengthening our internal control framework across a diverse and fast-moving business. Working as part of our growing Group Controls team, you'll help ensure our financial, operational and compliance controls are robust, effective and embedded in how we operate. From mapping processes and identifying risks to implementing control improvements and supporting business-wide remediation, you'll be central to how we maintain control integrity across a £1bn Group that spans retail stores, autocentres and distribution hubs nationwide.

As a Group Controls Accountant at Halfords, you'll play a key role in strengthening our internal control framework across a diverse and fast-moving business. Working as part of our growing Group Controls team, you'll help ensure our financial, operational and compliance controls are robust, effective and embedded in how we operate. From mapping processes and identifying risks to implementing control improvements and supporting business-wide remediation, you'll be central to how we maintain control integrity across a £1bn Group that spans retail stores, autocentres and distribution hubs nationwide.