Manager - Statutory Accounting And Reporting

WPP; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,100,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP’s Shared Service Center in India handles statutory reporting for UK entities, delivering end-to-end accounts using Excel data collection and iXBRL processes. You will liaise with CFOs and Finance Directors on reporting requirements and support onboarding new operating companies for statutory needs.

The role involves coordinating with external auditors, managing corporate tax packs, and assisting in dissolutions in collaboration with Legal and Tax teams.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA and strong technical accounting skills.
• Experience of reporting under IFRS and in a SOX control environment.
• Experience producing UK statutory accounts for multiple entities using Caseware or Workiva.
• Experience dealing with external auditors and ability to drive the audit process.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver Statutory reporting for all UK entities registered at Companies House.
• Produce end-to-end statutory accounts using Excel data collection template and input on statutory software (iXBRL).
• Be the key contact with CFOs, Finance Directors and Financial Controllers on statutory reporting needs and issues.
• Work with Head of Global Statutory Reporting to onboard new operating companies for statutory reporting needs.
• Serve as point of contact for external auditors on audit-related issues and questions; advise on auditing and SoX guidelines.
• Support collation of corporation tax packs and submission with tax consultants to ensure timely returns.
• Assist with dissolutions of WPP Holding and operating companies in coordination with Legal and Tax teams.
• Review accounting step plans for dissolutions and help document legal processes.

Skills

ACA/ACCA

IFRS

SOX controls

UK statutory accounts

external auditors

Excel

communication skills

Education

Chartered Accountant (ACA/ACCA)

Tools

Caseware

Workiva

Job description

Job Description:

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.

We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.

We work with the worlds most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.

Our people are the key to our success. Were committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

For more information, visit WPP.com.

The WPP SSC provides transactional financial services to WPP companies in the UK, including:

• Accounts Payable, including Intercompany transactions
• Accounts Receivable (Billing, Credit Control & Cash Allocation)
• Treasury
• Accounting and Reporting
• Statutory Reporting

By consolidating activities, the WPP SSC takes advantage of volume to deliver increased efficiency. This is achieved by standardising, streamlining, and aligning relevant processes, and introducing tools and technology to drive effectiveness across our operations. By taking over transactional financial activities, the WPP SSC enables our agencies to focus on commercial activities, client management as well as revenue and cost management.

In 2021, the WPP SSC UK organisation transferred specific process and transactional activities to the WPP SSC in India. The WPP SSC teams in the UK and India work together to provide services to WPP companies in the UK.

Why were hiring:

The WPP SSC is on a global transformation journey, and this is an opportunity to join the UK team to help us deliver exceptional financial services to our UK companies.

What youll be doing:

• Management and delivery of the Statutory reporting for all UK registered entities at Companies House. This role will report into the Head of Global Statutory Reporting.
• End-to-end production of statutory accounts using both an excel template for data collection and input on our statutory reporting software system, including generation of iXBRL files;
• Key contact along with the Head of Global Statutory Reporting for CFOs, Finance Directors and Financial Controllers on statutory reporting requirements, issues and associated questions;
• Working with the Head of Global Statutory Reporting to onboard a number of new operating companies supported by GBS UK for their statutory reporting needs;
• Key point of contact for external auditors on statutory audit related issues and questions; to provide guidance and advice on auditing, audit tests and SoX guidelines across GBS UK;
• Collation of corporation tax packs, working with the operating company teams on submission to the Group’s tax consultants to ensure timely submission of corporate tax returns;
• The department also assists with the dissolutions of WPP Holding and operating companies in conjunction with WPP Legal, WPP Tax and the operating companies;
• Review accounting step plans for dissolutions and assist WPP Legal in writing up the legal documentation surrounding dissolutions;

What youll need:

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA) with strong technical accounting skills
• Experience of reporting under IFRS and in a SOX control environment;
• Experience producing UK statutory accounts for multiple entities using statutory reporting software (ideally Caseware or Workiva);
• Experience dealing with external auditors and ability to drive the audit process;
• Excellent communication skills – able to communicate effectively both internally and externally, verbally and in writing, as well as at different levels of an organization;
• Commercially focused with a proactive service-oriented approach;
• Able to build and maintain strong internal and external working relationships;
• Excellent IT skills (Microsoft Office at intermediate to advanced level), particularly MS Excel, which should be intermediate/advanced (pivot tables; conditional formatting etc.)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail;
• Managing of own workload to ensure consistent service levels;
• There may also be a requirement to work additional hours occasionally due to tight deadlines and month-end processes.

Who you are:

You’re open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You’re optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with confidence: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You’re extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we deliver extraordinary every day.

What well give you:

Passionate, driven people – We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and deliver projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

We believe the best work happens when were together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. Thats why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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