Group Financial Controller

Job Description

An exciting opportunity to work within Westcon-Comstor leading the Group's financial control function as part of our central finance team.

The Group Financial Controller is responsible for providing IFRS and technical accounting expertise to the Group on new and existing accounting standards and ensuring strong financial control is in place. In particular the role will lead the Group's hedge accounting adoption and approach, take ownership for the Group's accounting policies manual, provide oversight and scrutiny over the Group's balance sheet, provide various reporting and analysis into the parent company based in South Africa, and lead the coordination of the external audit for the International group.

You will directly manage a small team of financial accountants.

This role could be based at our Cirencester or Bracknell offices. (hybrid)

We offer great benefits like 25 days holidays, BUPA Private Healthcare, pension and EV via Octopus salary sacrifice.

ABOUT THE ROLE

* Leading the Group's technical accounting work and representing Westcon on the Datatec Group Technical Committee. In particular this will involve providing expertise and undertaking research to determine the Group's response to new and existing accounting standards, determining the correct accounting treatment under IFRS for various projects such as acquisitions/group structure changes, and being the first point of call for Westcon finance colleagues around the world for matters of technical accounting advice
* Managing and maintaining the Group's accounting policies manual including the coordination and communication of necessary changes
* Coordinating the external audit with a big-4 auditor for the group audit of Westcon International, alongside the Corporate Controller, and ensuring that audit requests and queries are resolved and concluded in a timely manner
* Managing the coordination of data requirements, calculations and accounting entries for the Group's recent adoption of hedge accounting for foreign currency derivatives that are used
* Oversee and scrutinise the Group's balance sheet to support the CFO in maintaining strong financial control. This will involve periodic reviews of balance sheet items with regional finance teams to ensure reconciliations are accurate, supportable and in line with the Group's policies
* Work with the Corporate Controller in ensuring accurate and timely reporting is provided to the parent company based in South Africa. This will include periodic attendance at the Westcon Audit Risk & Compliance Committee meetings alongside the CFO
* Leading and developing a small team of accountants, including a cohort of apprentices, based in the UK who manage certain centrally supported areas of the Group's balance sheet such as inter-company and inventory
* Supporting the periodic Internal audit reviews of the Group's processes and procedures.

ABOUT YOU

Skills and Knowledge Required
* Fully qualified accountant (preferably ACA) with post qualification experience
* Excellent IFRS and technical accounting knowledge
* Experience in the adoption and application of hedge accounting and strong practical experience of managing foreign currency exposure
* A background in managing people and working across multiple jurisdictions
* A clear, concise and confident communicator with excellent written and oral communication skills
* A history of managing internal and external audit relationships and projects
* Experience in producing statutory accounts under IFRS
* Strong Excel skills and the ability to work with complex models
* SAP, Power BI and Hyperion use would be an advantage.

Desired Skills & Attributes
* Ability to operate at a senior level
* Strong organizational skills, and ability to work with limited supervision
* Team-player, initiating cross functional collaboration across Westcon group finance and the wider group
* Ability to identify process improvements and allocate activity to team to implement
* A strong knowledge of best practice in processes and internal controls
* Works well in high pressure environment.

Join a growing global business

Westcon-Comstor is a leading name in IT distribution with US$4.35 billion in global revenues. Our job is to link technology vendors to our distribution partners who resell software and solutions to business and other customers.

This is an exciting time to join our expanding UK and Ireland operation, which serves the EMEA region. We have ambitious plans and huge future potential - you will be ideally placed to grow your career in a dynamic yet supportive culture.
IND1

Salary : $4 - $0