The Entity Controller will assume responsibility and accountability for the integrity of all external and parent company reporting requirements for several of the SM&T Group’s legal entities.
The Entity Controller role predominantly focusses on preparation of monthly and annual financial reports, but also includes significant control activities required to support that reporting. This includes performing Balance Sheet integrity checks and reporting for each of the Legal Entities within the successful candidate’s remit.
The candidate will also be responsible for ensuring that all accounts are reconciled and substantiated, informing end users of this Legal Entity data that all control and substantiation processes have been completed, and performing intra-month checks to ensure that activities are correctly captured in the underlying books and records of each Legal Entity.
The Finance team encourages proactive continuous improvement to all processes. For this candidate, this will focus on those activities which most directly impact the role; balance sheet integrity and control, supporting the maintenance of master data structures, and both external and parent company reporting processes.
Success within the role will be dependent upon the development of mutually beneficial relationships with other divisions within both Finance and the wider SEFE organisation, as well as across global reporting locations.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Monthly Financial Reporting including parent company reporting through the SAP-FC consolidation system as well as other ad hoc requirements
• Financial control and reconciliation of key balance sheet General Ledger balances in SAP and substantiation of these balances • Preparation of key financial data, business commentary, and presentation across senior groups within finance • Preparation of annual financial statements for specified legal entities • Assistance with preparation of group consolidation for monthly, quarterly and annual IFRS reporting to meet the requirements of key stakeholders
• Maintenance of financial data structures and month end reporting templates, including the maintenance of the global booking policies
• Review of intercompany eliminations and support Accounting Control to resolve issues.
• Assist with development of group wide accounting policies and documentation
• Support analysis of new trades and structures to determine the appropriate accounting treatment in collaboration with the Technical Accounting team
• Support auditors as part of quarterly reviews and annual audit
• Assist with the standardisation and improvement of legal entity control processes for all Legal Entities globally to ensure consistency of reporting
• Assist with production of relevant architecture enhancements and documentation to facilitate parent company reporting requirements using the SAP FC consolidation platform
• Support reporting and control work streams within any Finance Change initiatives Enhance general control environment though process development and improvement
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
• Strong understanding of IFRS accounting and reporting and core financial accounting control principles
• Strong working knowledge of IFRS accounting for financial instruments (IAS 32 & IFRS 9) an advantage
• Experience of preparing statutory financial information
• Highly IT literate. MS Office (particularly Excel) to a high standard
• Good analytical skills and the ability to be flexible regarding nature of work
• Display high level of ownership and deliver tasks on time
• Diligent and dependable, approaching work with an attention to detail
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as being an effective member of a team
• Ability to work effectively with all areas of the business and to communicate with non-finance colleagues and build effective relationships
• Thrives in a high-pressure environment with challenging deadlines
• Ability to critically analyse current work methods and suggest and rapidly implement successful change
• Strong desire to learn and develop yourself professionally and take a willingness to share expertise and develop others
EXPERIENCE
• Exposure to the accounting and/or controlling function in a large or medium sized multinational business, either in practice or industry
• Experience of a commodities or trading business would be an advantage
• Experience of working in an international organisation with an overseas parent company would be an advantage
EDUCATION
• Degree level education
• Qualified accountant (ACA or equivalent)
