Head of Group Reporting and Accounting

James Fisher and Sons plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering services provider is seeking a Head of Group Reporting and Accounting. This role involves leading a team, managing critical financial reports, and implementing IFRS standards. The candidate should hold an ACA qualification, possess strong leadership skills, and have experience in improving financial processes. This position is based in London with a hybrid working model, offering a dynamic environment for those driven by continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven high-performing people leader in an international context.
• Substantial relevant PQE in a similar role.
• Experience in complex PLCs and change management.
• Demonstrable improvement of financial processes.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines with accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing team of accountants.
• Generate timely Group management accounts and reports.
• Coordinate statutory audit processes with external auditors.
• Enforce robust financial reporting controls.
• Lead implementation of new IFRS standards across the Group.

Skills

Strong understanding of controls requirements

Effective organisational ability

Stakeholder engagement skills

Highly numerate and analytical

Financial process improvement

Education

Qualified ACA or equivalent

Tools

Cognos

Job description

Head of Group Reporting and Accounting

Permanent, Full-time

London with hybrid working

About Us

James Fisher is a global supplier of trusted engineering services across the industries we serve, with an unrivalled ability to develop innovative solutions that meet the constantly developing needs of our customers operating in challenging environments.

As an innovative and fast-growing organisation, our highly skilled team and 175-year heritage enable us to deliver solutions to the most demanding operational and technical challenges faced by our customers around the world.

Together, we enable seismic shifts in the way the world transports goods, protects natural resources and generates power. We are relied on in the marine, defence and energy sectors to help our customers deliver on their promises and realise their ambitions safely, efficiently and responsibly.

About the Role

The Head of Group Reporting and Accounting will play a pivotal leadership role within Group Finance, guiding a team of accountants and overseeing external and internal reporting, audits, monthly consolidation and ownership of the consolidation and reporting system. The individual will be responsible for determining and documenting key accounting judgements as well as providing expert accounting advice to the Group’s finance community, keeping up to date with all developments within IFRS and leading the implementation of new standards across the Group. The role will also be responsible for leadership and support of critical transformation workstreams around financial and management reporting, accounting and finance standards and procedures and data.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high performing team of accountants providing guidance, support and mentorship to ensure their professional growth and effective execution of their responsibilities. Drive the function towards a high standard of excellence, growth and infrastructure.
• Build a roadmap for improvement in processes and across the team, including the development and optimisation of our accounting/consolidation system and implementation of effective internal controls.
• Responsible for the production of the monthly Group management accounts and supporting information / analytics, ensuring that it is produced in a professional and timely manner. Continuously evolve the level of insight and clarity provided. Ensure additional analysis and reports are produced for purposes of financial control.
• Responsible for the delivery of Half Year Report and Annual Report and Accounts in a timely and efficient manner.
• Act as the main point of contact for external auditors, coordinating audit processes and ensuring appropriate information flow between all teams, including end to end project management. Escalation point for resolving matters across the Group.
• Prepare / review calculations and accounting papers for key accounting judgements, significant balances and large/unusual transactions (e.g. going concern, impairment assessment, divestments and acquisitions etc.).
• Coordinate the statutory audit timetable to ensure timely filing.
• Establish, develop and enforce robust financial reporting controls, minimising risks and enhancing accuracy and reliability.
• Provide technical support and expertise to the group, offering guidance on complex accounting issues and assisting in decision-making processes.
• Develop and maintain group accounting policies, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards. Ensure the policies are known and followed across the Group.
• Prepare responses to developments in IFRS. Lead implementation and roll out of changes in IFRS across the Group, including system developments to accommodate any new requirements. Lead a rolling programme of reviewing group-wide accounting under complex standards: IFRS 15, IFRS 9, IFRS 16, IFRS 17, etc
• Liaise with professional advisers as applicable
• Lead a development programme for the Group Consolidation package (Cognos) to streamline structures and improve reporting.

About the Candidate

• Qualified ACA or equivalent
• A people leader with demonstrable experience in building high performing teams in an international context
• Substantial and relevantPQE with experience in a similar role
• An adeptcommunicator with stakeholder engagement and management competencies
• Effective organisational ability and time management skillswith the ability to work to tight deadlines and with accuracy
• Previous experience in complex Plc’s and change context
• Strong understanding of controls requirements
• Significant experience in improving financial processes and documentation
• Consolidation systems experience
• Highly numerate and analytical
• A mindset driving for continuous change and improvement

If the above captured your interest, click "Apply".