UK Financial Controller

SmartestEnergy; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Job summary

SmartestEnergy is seeking a Senior Finance leader to run the Financial Reporting function across the UK, ensuring integrity of reporting, tight financial controls, and statutory compliance. You will oversee Group reporting, external audits and the Group Financial Controls Framework, driving transformation and data quality across finance systems.

With responsibility for international growth finance processes and regulatory changes, you will partner with senior leadership to deliver high-quality

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA and substantial post-qualification experience in financial reporting.
• Proven leadership within a multi-entity organisation.
• Extensive experience in Group reporting, statutory reporting and external audits.
• Strong IFRS knowledge and experience in complex accounting.
• Experience designing or operating financial control frameworks and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Financial Reporting team ensuring timely monthly, quarterly and annual reporting.
• Own UK balance sheet, P&L and cash flow accuracy and completeness.
• Oversee Group monthly consolidation and high-quality Group reporting.
• Review key financial results and significant accounting judgements with senior leadership.
• Collaborate with Internal Audit, Risk and Compliance to strengthen governance.
• Support international growth and regulatory change through robust reporting.
• Drive finance data quality and transformation programs including Workday enhancements.
• Champion standardisation, automation and best practices in reporting.

Skills

Leadership

IFRS expertise

Group reporting

Audit oversight

Education

ACCA/ACA qualified

Tools

Workday

Job description

You will lead the Financial Reporting function and be responsible for the integrity of financial reporting, financial control and statutory compliance across the UK business whilst providing oversight of Group financial reporting, Group audit and development of the Group Financial Controls Framework.

How will I spend my time in this role?

Financial Reporting & Financial Control

• Lead the Financial Reporting team, ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting across the UK business.
• Maintain overall accountability for the integrity of the UK balance sheet, profit and loss account and cash flow, ensuring reported results are accurate, complete and fully supported.
• Provide oversight of the Group monthly consolidation process, ensuring high-quality Group reporting across an expanding portfolio of legal entities.
• Review and challenge key financial results, significant accounting judgements and emerging reporting risks, providing clear financial insight to senior leadership.
• Work closely with Head of Technical Accounting to ensure consistent application of IFRS, Group accounting policies and appropriate accounting treatment for complex commercial arrangements.
• Ensure reporting processes evolve to support new products, new markets, acquisitions and changing business structures.

Group Audit, Governance & Controls

• Lead the delivery of the annual statutory and Group audits, maintaining strong relationships with external auditors and ensuring delivery to agreed timetables and quality standards.
• Provide executive oversight of the Group Financial Controls Framework, ensuring controls are designed, implemented, documented, monitored and continuously improved across the expanding Group.
• Sponsor the maturation of the Group control environment, moving from a developing framework to a robust, scalable and well-governed financial control model.
• Oversee financial reporting policies, process documentation and governance standards, ensuring consistency across all Group entities.
• Work closely with Internal Audit, Risk and Compliance teams to identify financial reporting risks, monitor remediation plans and strengthen governance arrangements.
• Ensure financial reporting remains compliant with evolving regulatory, accounting and governance requirements across all operating jurisdictions.

International Growth & Regulatory Change

• Lead the finance response to the increasing complexity arising from international expansion into additional energy and commodity markets.
• Ensure financial reporting processes accurately reflect new trading activities, regulatory reporting requirements and operational changes introduced across new jurisdictions.
• Partner with commercial, regulatory and operational teams to understand the financial reporting implications of new products, market expansion and regulatory developments.
• Assess the impact of legislative and regulatory change on finance processes, controls and reporting requirements, implementing necessary enhancements.

Business Transformation & Data Leadership

• Act as Finance Lead for business-wide transformation programmes impacting finance data, reporting processes and financial systems.
• Drive improvements in finance data quality, governance and ownership to improve reporting accuracy, operational efficiency and decision-making.
• Lead finance workstreams within enterprise-wide change programmes, ensuring finance requirements are fully represented throughout project delivery.
• Continue to optimise Workday and supporting reporting systems to improve automation, scalability and control.
• Champion continuous improvement across reporting processes through standardisation, automation and best practice.

What skills/experience do I need to be successful?

• ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience in financial reporting, audit or financial control (min 4/5 years);
• Demonstrable leadership experience within a complex, multi-entity organisation;
• Extensive experience leading Group reporting, statutory reporting and external audit processes;
• Strong experience of IFRS reporting and complex technical accounting;
• Experience designing or operating financial control frameworks and governance processes.

What sets us apart?

• Global Impact: With offices in the UK, US, Spain and Australia, and plans for further expansion, you'll be part of a dynamic, globally-minded team, with opportunities to explore new markets and make a difference on a global scale.

Flexible Working

• Flexible Working: Embrace the freedom to work from anywhere in the world for up to 30 days a year. We prioritise work-life balance, recognizing that your well-being matters. Find out more here.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: We celebrate our diverse culture and value individuals irrespective of background, disability, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or ethnicity. Join a team where diversity is not just welcomed but celebrated as a key driver of growth and innovation.

What does hybrid working mean to us?

Hybrid working typically means 2 days in the office location listed on this advert and 3 days working at home each week. Some occasional travel to our other offices may be required.

What happens next?

Once we receive your application, it will be reviewed by a human - no bots here! The average process typically takes around 2-3 weeks, with 2 stages of video interviews using Teams. However, this can vary depending on the role. We may invite you for a face-to-face meeting or require only 1 video interview. If you have any questions or need support, our Recruitment Team is here to assist you.