Financial Controller - Corporate Services

Job Introduction

We are on the lookout for a Financial Controller for a 9 month contract.

The right candidate will ensure the accuracy of the financial statements in their scope, by ensuring adherence to accounting standards, ownership of balance sheet reporting including timely and robust reconciliations; supervising and controlling the financial reporting process.

To be successful in this role, you'll support both the segment and regional finance teams ensuring governance, financial controls and compliance procedures are in place and adhered to across UK & ROI financial statements.

You'll drive process improvements and to assist in the mentor and support of UK-based R2R support and the SBS Europe team promoting high quality service delivery. You'll own the consolidation of the segment forecasting and budgeting process, including reporting outputs for submission to region segment, finance and global segment. You'll prepare statutory accounts to draft stage for limited companies within the FC scope, lead certain ad hoc finance/control related projects, and deputise for Segment Finance Director as necessary.

Role Responsibility

Financial Control 

Accuracy of financial statements: 

• Full ownership of month end process and financial reporting all key financial statement areas: P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow (via LGO) 

• Leading the budget and forecast consolidation for the Segment, providing all relevant financial analysis and reporting to assist in business reviews capturing Segment Exec, Global and Regional requirements 

• Ownership of Balance Sheet and reconciliation process for segment; identifying and reporting on risks and opportunities within the Balance Sheet and P&L account including the monitoring of capital spend 

• Finance focal point for segment and SBS Europe ensuring service levels are met, and of consistently high quality; acting as point of escalation for issues and urgent requests. Assist in mentoring and coaching SBS Europe colleagues, to ensure best practice and segment understanding 

• Indirect relationship with R2R support, managing the day to day activity 

• Ensure consistency and compliance of accounting practices with accounting standards; ensuring all group finance policies, processes and procedures are known, understood and consistently applied in segment to support achievement of the Group’s financial objectives 

• Responsible for other managed reports and returns (e.g. tax packs, statistical information, Planon reporting) 

• Prepare statutory accounts to draft stage for limited companies within the FC scope 

• Support internal and external audits as required, attend Audit reviews with Segment Finance Director 

• Segment responsible person for all technical matters related to the group financial reporting tool (HFM) and group forecast and budget tool (Tagetik) 

• Accountability for all contract hierarchies, delegated levels of authority, point of contact for SBS Europe approvals including acting as the gate keeper for Payroll information, high value invoice/credit note approval, all segment DOA changes & systems access 

• Sharing best practices with the region management reporting team, focusing on continuous improvement 

• Deputising for the Segment FD where necessary; attend and support business reviews. 

The Ideal Candidate

• Ideally, qualified accountant (CIMA/ACA/ACCA) with evidenced PQE 

• Analytical and commercial skills 

• A strong technical grounding and first-class forecasting and budgeting credentials 

• Highest levels of personal integrity 

• Outstanding communicator with the ability to distil complexity to most senior levels 

• Excellent stakeholder management skills 

• Strong decision maker, with time management skills and able to manage conflicting demands 

• Good team player with the ability to influence others and portray sense of direction, leadership and commitment to people at all levels 

• Strong evidence of resilience, energy and drive 

• An innovator who is able to lead and manage change 

• Ability to work under pressure; think clearly and act decisively 

Package Description

Competitive salary + bonus and benefits

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo’s connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge (Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design (Wx); employee engagement and recognition services (Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.

Vital Spaces is Sodexo’s value proposition that puts people at the heart of everything we do, bringing together services and solutions and focusing on the productivity and wellbeing of people wherever they are.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process