This is a high-profile role with a clear mandate: transform and elevate the function into a best-in-class, insight-led finance operation. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how finance supports a complex, multi-entity European business moving from transactional delivery to true value-add.
If you’re looking for a role where you can drive change, influence senior stakeholders, and build a high-performing team, this is a standout opportunity.
Financial Controller – Shared Services – Benefits
25 days Paid holidays
Salary Exchange Pension scheme
Non Contributory Life Assurance
Private Medical Insurance
Group Income protection
Financial Controller – Shared Services – About The Role
Reporting to the Director of European Shared Services, you will take full ownership of the controllership agenda across multiple European entities:
Controllership & Financial Leadership
Act as the European controllership lead for R2R, ensuring strong governance, consistency and best practice
Take accountability for the integrity, accuracy and completeness of financial records
Own balance sheet governance, including reconciliations, reviews, risk identification and issue resolution
Oversee accruals, provisions, estimate), ensuring robust documentation and review
Ensure alignment between management, statutory and tax reporting
Financial Close & Day-to-Day Delivery
Lead the end-to-end close process (month, quarter, year-end), ensuring deadlines are met with high quality output
Manage day-to-day operations within the Controllership team, setting priorities and resolving escalations
Review journals, reconciliations and reporting packs, ensuring a “first-time right” approach
Drive consistency and discipline across multiple entities and reporting lines
Deliver insightful monthly reporting, variance analysis and performance commentary
Audit, Compliance & Controls
Own the relationship with external auditors, leading audit planning, execution and issue resolution
Ensure ongoing SOX compliance and a robust internal control environment
Drive a culture of continuous audit readiness and proactive risk management
Strengthen and embed financial controls across all processes
Leadership & Team Development
Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team (c.10–15 FTE), both direct and indirect
Set clear objectives, KPIs and service levels across the function
Upskill the team from transactional processing to true financial control and analysis
Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and service excellence
Process Improvement & Transformation
Drive the standardisation and optimisation of processes across Europe
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce close cycle time and enhance reporting quality
Champion automation and better use of systems (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream)
Play a key role in ongoing finance transformation and system enhancement initiatives
Stakeholder & Business Partnering
Act as a key interface between Shared Services, local finance teams and Group Finance
Partner with operational and finance stakeholders to improve reporting and support decision-making
Translate complex accounting issues into clear, actionable insights
Promote the SSC as a value-adding, customer-focused finance function
The successful Financial Controller – Shared Services will have:
Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
Strong controllership background with ownership of financial reporting and close processes
Experience in a complex, multi-entity, international environment
Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS / US GAAP) and controls (SOX preferred)
Hands-on leader, comfortable operating both strategically and at detail level
Proven track record of process improvement, transformation and team development
Strong systems experience (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream or similar preferred)
Howett Thorpe are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role and comply with all relevant UK legislation and do not discriminate on any protected characteristics. Due to the high volume of applications we currently receive, we are unable to respond to all candidates. If you do not hear from a Consultant within 5 working days, please assume that you have not been successful.
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Salary description
£80000.00 - £85000.00 per year