Financial Controller
- Recruiter
- Portman Talent
- Location
- London (Central)
- Posted
- 10 Dec 2017
- Closes
- 08 Jan 2018
- Job role
- Accountant
- Sector
- Accounting - Public practice
** PLEASE NOTE FINANCIAL SERVICES - IDEALLY BROKERAGE BACKGROUNDS - ESSENTIAL FOR THIS POSITION **
A privately-owned brokerage set up to service the individual needs of institutional customers with over 20 years experience of managing operations within Investment banking and offer Global access to the world's major exchanges and products are looking for an ambitious Finance Manager / Financila Controller to join their expanding team
The Financial Controller will be responsible for all aspects of finance. The role is a hands-on role to include responsibility for the firm's management, statutory and regulatory accounting and reporting in accordance with established deadlines together with responsibility for the related financial systems, processes and controls.
The individual will be responsible for the management of the day to day financial accounting, reporting and control in accordance with internal and external requirements and deadlines, preparation of monthly management accounts and associated reports and processing of the monthly employee payroll. The individual will maintain oversight of the preparation and submission of tax computations for appropriate entities in liaison with the firm's external tax advisors, and preparation of annual statutory accounts and will have responsibility for the firm's external auditors and provision of all required information for both statutory and regulatory audit purposes and the preparation and submission of regulatory reports to the FCA and, where relevant, other regulatory bodies.
The role is central to the UK office affording the candidate significant and ongoing exposure to the Board of Directors, Executive Committee Members, brokers and support staff.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Maintain strong balance sheet control through monthly reconciliation of the entire balance sheet;
- Prepare monthly management accounts for review by senior management and ensure that the management accounts continue to develop and address the reporting needs of the Board and other senior managers including segmental profits by line of business, expense reporting, key financial ratios and variance analysis;
- Design and implement a global budgetary process;
- Prepare and manage the budget reforecasting in a timely manner, with the aim of being on a quarterly basis;
- Prepare and analyse variance analysis reports to aid cost control initiatives;
- Prepare monthly regulatory reports;
- Support the Audit process including preparation of year end file;
- Be directly involved in business analysis and forecasting business performance; as required by senior management;
- Initiate and implement control processes to better manage the Finance function;
- Implement of procurement processes to ensure better financial control;
- Undertake daily P&L production and other daily reporting tasks;
- Ensure all the reporting is consistent both from a financial and a presentational perspective;
- Act as a mentor to the Assistant Accountant and work with them to develop them professionally, and develop the processes undertaken by them to continually improve the finance departments processes;
- Identify and deliver ad-hoc projects that will benefit the Company;
- Maintain awareness of industry best practices and commercial finance opportunities and ensure that any additional best practice ideas are communicated to senior management;
- Preparation and timely submission of statutory accounts in accordance with prescribed time-scales;
- The provision of accurate and timely management information to assist the Executive Committee and Board in running the business;
- Performing analytics on financial performance;
- Contributing to the development of Finance initiatives for the improvement of the Finance function;
- Liquidity and cash flow management;
- Focal point for answering audit questions and providing our auditors with relevant documentation to allow completion of audits in a timely manner; and
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements
They are looking for an individual who has a strong background in designing and implementing controls and processes, ideally from a practice background with either Financial Services clients or having worked outside of practice post-qualification for an FCA regulated business. The successful individual will need to be assertive and hands on and happy to work for a smaller business where your responsibilities will be broader but you will also have a greater impact and value to add.
- Qualified ideally with some PQE (CIMA; ACCA)
- Must be comfortable working in a standalone environment;
- Demonstrable maturity, professionalism and gravitas;
- Experience of automation and process improvement to increase the efficiency of recurring tasks.
- Ability to work to deadlines and adapt to changing conditions including the ability to generate effective and pragmatic solutions to new situations and problems as they are presented;
- Excellent attention to detail;
- Demonstrates passion - approaches all tasks in an enthusiastic way. Committed to upholding professional standards;
- Results-focused - is committed to achieving goals;
- Tenacious approach to delivery, quality of output and organisation;
- Strong communication skills - handles complex and difficult situations with thought and confidence; and
- Displays integrity - is sincere in own behaviour and in dealings with others
Knowledge and Functional Skills:
- Awareness of the requirements of working within a regulated business within financial services is preferred;
- Industry knowledge and experience is preferred but not essential;
- Business experience of dealing with suppliers and clients;
- High level of Excel proficiency;
- Positive personal approach which gives confidence; and
- Experience of developing a role within a changing organisation.