Group Financial Controller

Sewell Wallis Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary up to £115,000

20% bonus

Company car / car allowance

Private medical insurance

Company pension

Hybrid working - on-site ~3 days/week

On-site parking

Leadership opportunity

Job summary

Sewell Wallis is partnering with a global Berkshire-based manufacturer to appoint a Group Financial Controller. The role leads a ~30-person finance team and owns financial reporting and controls across a multi-entity Group, driving transformation and commercial focus.

The successful candidate will oversee IFRS 16 lease and asset accounting, strengthen controls, and partner with senior stakeholders to deliver meaningful financial insight and improvements.

Qualifications

• Hands-on lease accounting experience with IFRS 16 is essential.
• Strong asset accounting experience in a large asset-intensive business.
• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA).
• Practice-trained background is advantageous.
• Knowledge of IFRS 16, IFRS 15, IAS 2/IAS 36/IAS 37 and FRS 102.

Responsibilities

• Lead Group finance, accounting, payroll and reporting functions with high standards of performance and control.
• Own monthly management reporting, statutory accounts, budgets and forecasts.
• Provide technical leadership on lease and asset accounting, applying IFRS 16 across the Group.
• Oversee complex accounting matters and govern accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Manage year-end audit and tax reporting with external advisers.
• Strengthen financial controls, systems and procedures across the organisation.
• Lead cash flow, budgeting, forecasting and KPI reporting for business insight.
• Oversee consolidation and intercompany accounting in a multi-entity Group.
• Partner with divisional leaders to identify risks/opportunities and drive performance.
• Develop a 30-strong finance team and foster accountability and high performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems/processes, including BI/AI tools.
• Support Finance Director on strategic projects and transformation programmes.

Skills

Lease accounting

IFRS 16

Asset accounting

Consolidation & intercompany

Team leadership

Commercial finance

BI/AI tools familiarity

Stakeholder influence

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Business intelligence tools

Job description

Sewell Wallis is working with a highly established global manufacturer based in Berkshire to appoint a Group Financial Controller. This is a senior finance leadership position with responsibility for a large, multi-entity finance operation and a clear mandate to drive transformation, strengthen controls and bring greater commercial focus to the function.

Candidates should take the time to read all the elements of this job advert carefully.

A key requirement for this role is strong, hands-on lease accounting experience. You will need a detailed understanding of IFRS 16 and complex lease accounting, alongside broader experience of asset accounting within a large, asset-intensive organisation. This is not simply a desirable, proven lease and asset accounting expertise is essential to the role.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the Group's financial reporting and control environment while leading a finance team of around 30 people. You'll have the opportunity to influence how the function operates, develop an established team and introduce improvements that have a measurable impact across the wider business.

You'll be joining an organisation with significant experience in business transformation and organisational change, making this an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance leader who enjoys challenging existing processes and creating a more effective, commercially driven finance function.

What will you be doing?

• Lead the Group finance, accounting, payroll and reporting functions, ensuring high standards of financial performance, control and service.
• Take ownership of monthly management reporting, statutory accounts, budgets, forecasts, profit plans and associated financial analysis.
• Provide technical leadership across lease and asset accounting, with particular responsibility for ensuring the accurate application of IFRS 16 across the Group.
• Oversee complex accounting matters and act as a key technical point of reference for accounting standards, financial governance and regulatory requirements.
• Manage the year-end statutory audit and associated tax reporting processes, working closely with external auditors and tax advisers.
• Strengthen the Group's financial control framework, ensuring robust systems, processes, policies and procedures are embedded throughout the organisation.
• Lead cash-flow management, budgeting, forecasting and KPI reporting to provide the business with clear and commercially relevant financial insight.
• Oversee consolidation and intercompany accounting across a large, multi-entity Group structure.
• Partner with divisional and operational leaders to identify financial risks, opportunities and areas for improved performance.
• Lead, coach and develop a finance team of approximately 30, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes and reporting, including the effective use of business intelligence and AI tools.
• Support the Finance Director with strategic projects, transformation initiatives and wider business improvement programmes.

What we're looking for?

• Significant hands-on experience of lease accounting, with a strong understanding of IFRS 16.
• Strong asset accounting experience within a large, asset-intensive or multi-entity environment.
• A fully qualified accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
• Ideally, a practice-trained background with strong technical accounting foundations.
• Detailed knowledge of relevant accounting standards, including IFRS 16, IFRS 15, IAS 2, IAS 36, IAS 37 and FRS 102.
• Proven experience operating within a large Group or multi-entity organisation.
• Strong Consolidation And Intercompany Accounting Experience.
• A track record of leading and developing sizeable finance teams.
• Previous experience at Group Financial Controller, Head of Finance or Finance Director level, ideally for 5+ years.
• Experience within logistics, distribution, manufacturing, engineering or another asset-intensive environment would be highly advantageous.
• The confidence to challenge existing processes, influence senior stakeholders and drive meaningful change.
• A commercially minded, positive and pragmatic approach, with the ability to balance technical accuracy with business needs.
• Experience with business intelligence and AI-enabled finance tools would be advantageous.

What's on offer?

• Salary: up to £115,000 (dependent on experience)
• 20% bonus
• Company car / car allowance
• Private medical insurance
• Company pension
• Hybrid working - approximately 3 days per week on site
• On-site parking
• Opportunity to lead and shape a significant finance function within an established organisation