Group Financial Controller

McLaren Group; Old Woking; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

McLaren Group seeks a Group Financial Controller to lead the Controllership function, owning financial control, month-end close, consolidation, reporting, and external audit management. You will set the standards for governance, and act as a trusted adviser on technical accounting matters to senior leadership.

You will lead a high-performing Controllership team, drive control framework enhancements, and ensure robust financial stewardship across the Group with exposure to the Board and external

Qualifications

• Experience operating at senior group level in complex international organisations.
• Proven ability to lead group consolidation, statutory reporting and audit delivery.
• Strong communication with Executive Teams, Boards and Audit Committees.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end monthly, quarterly and annual close and reporting across the Group.
• Act as Group authority on IFRS and technical accounting matters including complex transactions.
• Lead external and internal audit relationships and ensure timely audit delivery.
• Prepare materials for Audit & Risk Committee, Board and executives with clear recommendations.
• Design and enhance the Group's financial control framework and policy governance.
• Lead Controllership leadership team and develop talent across the function.
• Oversee balance sheet integrity, reconciliations and governance across entities.
• Drive transformation, standardisation and automation in close and reporting processes.

Skills

IFRS expertise

Group consolidation

Audit management

Leadership & people management

Financial governance

Education

ACA, ACCA or equivalent Chartered Accountant qualification

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

SAC/EPM

Job description

As Group Financial Controller, you will be the senior operational leader of the Controllership function for the McLaren Group and the principal owner of the Group Control agenda. You will hold end-to-end responsibility for financial control, month-end close, Group consolidation, statutory and external reporting, technical accounting, external audit management, financial governance, and support to the Audit & Risk Committee. You will be accountable for ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, maintaining a robust and effective control environment, and delivering high-quality financial stewardship across the Group, with significant exposure to executive leadership, the Board and external stakeholders. You will be primarily responsible for:

• Setting the standards for financial integrity, governance, control and reporting across the Group.
• Ensuring the Group's books and records are maintained accurately and in compliance with applicable accounting standards, legislation and internal policy.
• Acting as a trusted adviser and authority on financial control, reporting and technical accounting matters, providing clear direction and effective decision-making across the Group.
• Leading a high-performing Controllership organisation with the capability and depth to support the Group's evolving needs and ambitions.

What You'll Do

• Group control and reporting: Own the end-to-end monthly, quarterly and annual close and reporting cycle across the Group, including the reporting timetable, consolidation, intercompany and related party accounting and disclosure, and the delivery of complete, accurate and compliant financial results that are trusted and well understood by leadership across a complex group structure comprising subsidiaries, associates and affiliated entities.
• Technical accounting: Act as the Group authority on IFRS and technical accounting matters, including complex transactions, impairment, revenue recognition, financial instruments, leases, provisions and contingencies, and going concern; own Group accounting policy and reporting standards, ensuring consistent application across the Group, and prepare the technical accounting papers that support key judgements and reporting conclusions.
• Audit and assurance: Lead the relationship with external and internal auditors, ensuring the successful delivery of Group and statutory audits, timely resolution of findings, and effective management of audit quality, fees, scope and timetable.
• Board, Audit & Risk Committee and executive support: Own the preparation and coordination of Audit & Risk Committee materials, technical accounting papers, Board papers and executive briefing materials, providing clear, insightful and well-supported recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Internal control and risk: Own the design, operation, documentation and continuous enhancement of the Group's financial control framework, including delegation of authority, segregation of duties, entity-level controls, fraud risk management and controls monitoring; lead the internal audit relationship and closure of actions.
• Leadership and capability: Lead, develop and hold to account the Controllership leadership team, building a high-performance, visible leadership culture; own talent development, succession planning, coaching and performance management, whilst building sustainable capability and bench strength across the function.
• Balance sheet governance: Own the integrity of the Group balance sheet, ensuring robust reconciliation, substantiation and review processes are in place across all entities and that significant judgements, estimates and exposures are appropriately understood and governed.
• Transformation and continuous improvement: Drive simplification, standardisation and automation across close, control and reporting processes; improve reporting quality, control effectiveness and cycle times; support the SAP S/4HANA, SAC/EPM and wider finance systems agenda as the senior control voice, ensuring controls are embedded within scalable processes and system designs.
• Shareholder and lender reporting: Own shareholder and lender reporting obligations, covenant compliance and financial information requirements, partnering with treasury, tax and external advisers to support the Group's broader funding and governance agenda.

What You'll Bring

ACA, ACCA or equivalent Chartered Accountant qualification, with significant post-qualification experience gained within complex international organisations.

• Demonstrable experience operating at Group Financial Controller, Head of Financial Control, Director of Controllership, Group Reporting Director or equivalent level within a large, complex, multi-entity international group.
• Extensive experience leading Group consolidation, statutory reporting, annual report and accounts preparation and external audit delivery across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to operate credibly with Executive Leadership Teams, Boards and Audit & Risk Committees, presenting complex financial matters in a clear and commercially relevant manner.
• Proven experience leading external audit relationships, including planning, execution and successful delivery against demanding reporting and statutory filing deadlines.
• Substantial people leadership experience, including leading multi-layered teams through managers, building capability, improving performance and developing succession pipelines.

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars. It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enable... something special. Join us on our journey.