Group Financial Controller (6 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Sophos; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first working model

Hybrid options

Flexible start times

Leadership development program

LinkedIn Learning

Wellbeing program

EAP for confidential counseling

Calm app subscription

Parental leave & caregiver leave

Job summary

Sophos is seeking a Group Financial Controller to oversee global accounting, payroll, and balance sheet control. You will manage a multinational financial control team and coordinate with shared services, tax, and audit functions to ensure timely, compliant reporting.

The role requires strong people leadership, IFRS expertise, and experience in a quoted tech company environment. Occasional travel and peak period flexibility are expected.

Qualifications

• Experience of a quoted company environment.
• Minimum of 7 years post qualification experience.
• Management of a team.
• Familiar with corporation tax and VAT filing requirements.
• Understanding of IFRS accounting practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead all accounting operations, including month-end close, ensuring accuracy and deadlines.
• Own financial controls, balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, and quarterly reviews with SVP Finance.
• Oversee payroll, AP, AR, commissions, inventory, receivables, and cash flow processes globally.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, statutory requirements, audits, and government reporting; act as primary audit contact.
• Manage SGWI contract and related procedures; ensure local compliance and filings.
• Maintain best-practice processes across accounting, payroll, and AP functions.

Skills

People management

Stakeholder mgmt

IFRS knowledge

Month-end close

Audits

Tax compliance

Financial reporting

Job description

• The Group Financial Controller reports to the Senior Vice President of Finance and has key responsibility for all aspects of accounting for the Group’s global operations
• This includes all elements of the financial control functions including payroll, general accounting and balance sheet control; also managing the relationship to the Group’s shared service centre in India that covers accounts payable, purchasing and accounts receivable
• The position is also the main contact for annual audits of the global subsidiaries (though not the consolidation)
• The position is also responsible for all month end processes, analysis of variances to plan and forecast, and ensuring timely and accurate reporting for all statutory returns including VAT, WHT, CIT and statutory accounts
• The position will manage the financial control team across the globe and hence strong people management skills are essential. In addition the job holder is expected to develop strong working relationships with the business and other back office departments
• This role also involves interface on a day-to-day basis with the Senior Vice President Finance; the CFO; and, the other global finance departments as required
• Finance & Accounting:
• Lead all accounting operations, including month-end close, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to strict deadlines
• Own financial controls, balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, and quarterly reviews with SVP Finance
• Oversee payroll, AP, AR, commissions, inventory, receivables, and cash flow processes globally
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, statutory requirements, audits, and government reporting; act as primary audit contact
• Manage SGWI contract and related procedures; ensure local compliance and filings
• Maintain best-practice processes across accounting, payroll, and AP functions
• Taxation:
• Ensure local indirect tax compliance and filings
• Partner with Group and Sophos Tax teams on compliance, reporting, and tax optimization
• Reporting:
• Support monthly management accounts and ad hoc reporting for SMT and Board
• Partner with Group Finance and local leadership to improve performance and business support
• Provide guidance to the finance team on reporting matters
• Projects & Leadership:
• Partner with Finance IT on system enhancements, UAT, and successful deployments
• Lead financial control and process improvement initiatives
• Support budgeting and forecasting as required
• Manage, coach, and develop the finance team; conduct performance reviews and talent planning
• Director Responsibilities:
• Act as resident Director for local entities, signing contracts and filings in line with legal and signature policies
• Special Conditions:
• Flexibility required during month-end, year-end, and peak periods
• Occasional travel and short-notice availability for document signing

Benefits

• We encourage teams to get together in person periodically to help facilitate teamwork
• Remote-first working model & hybrid options
• Flexible start and end times for many roles
• Leadership development program
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Global internal coaching program (Coach Match)
• Periodic Sophos wellness days off for all Sophos to help employees relax and recharge
• Global wellbeing program, which offers a range of wellbeing resources, including Sophos Wellbeing Webinars, Stress Management Toolkits, and Developing Resilience Courses
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential advice and counseling on a wide range of work and personal issues
• Free annual subscription to the Calm app
• Paid parental leave, caregiver leave & bereavement/compassion leave available
• We host some unforgettable social experiences for our global teams including our music festival SOPH-Fest, go-karting, Sophmudder, and incredible holiday parties!
• Our annual global fitness challenge, SOPH-Fit, sees thousands of employees taking part in our virtual global race around the world
• Each quarter, we celebrate our exceptional global team by running the Sophos Values Awards, which recognizes and rewards employees who embody the Sophos values and who we are as a company
• Health care benefits available worldwide

Working with external auditors and tax advisorsExperience of a quoted company environmentPreviously operated as a Director; or have had strong exposure to the requirementsFamiliar with corporation tax and VAT filing requirementsPractical long-term experience of all aspects of the month end and annual closing accounting and planning processesCommercial experience, e.g. contract reviewMinimum of 7 years post qualification experienceRegulatory and compliance matters from a financial perspectiveWorking within a software or technology company, ideally a global organisationManagement of a teamImproving processes and controlsManagement of the functions of financial control, accounting, payroll, management and financial reportingUnderstanding of IFRS accounting practicesResearch shows that candidates sometimes hesitate to apply if they don’t check every box in a job description. We challenge that notion. Your unique experiences and skills might be exactly what we need to enhance our team.