Senior Financial Controller - UK
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Reporting to the Head of Financial Control, the Senior Financial Controller - UK will be an integral part of the team's success.
This role is pivotal to ensuring the financial integrity and success of Waystone's largest geographical market, UK. The Senior Financial Controller will manage a team of product-specific controllers/accountants and work closely with the Group Finance Team and senior management in UK to support the strategic growth of the business.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Leadership and Management
• Lead and manage the financial control function across UK, covering all three products: Regulated Fund Solutions, Administration Solutions, and Global Compliance Solutions.
• Provide direction and leadership to a team of Financial Controllers and accountants responsible for individual products, ensuring the delivery of accurate and timely financial information.
• Providing oversight to General Ledger, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable teams, driving enhancements in finance operations.
• Support the Head of Financial Control in setting the financial strategy for UK, aligning with the broader global objectives.
Financial Reporting and Management Accounting
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of monthly management accounts for UK, ensuring they are accurate, insightful, and presented in a timely manner.
• Consolidate financial reports across product lines for reporting and presentation to Group Finance and Senior Country and Product Leadership, ensuring clarity and alignment with business goals.
• Ensure the maintenance of accurate reconciliations, schedules, and supporting documentation during the month-end close process.
• Provide support to Country Finance Business Partner for delivery of financial analysis and insight to support business decision-making, including variance analysis (budget vs. actuals) and trend identification.
• Drive accurate and timely reporting processes, ensuring compliance with Waystone Group Policy and reporting requirements.
• Ensure preparation of quality, accurate and compliant annual financial statements for statutory audits of all Irish entities.
• Contribute to Policy & Procedure initiatives and ensure adoption and adherence in UK.
Audit, Tax & Regulatory Compliance
• Ultimately responsible for the statutory audits of legal entities in UK.
• Review financial statements and ensure quality, accurate and compliant annual financial statements are delivered for statutory audits of entities in UK.
• Responsible for all entities within UK meeting financial Audit deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with Group Finance to assist in developing and implementing Waystone Finance Policy & Procedure. Drive enhancements to the Policies and Procedures and provide input into their design.
• Oversee and ensure tax and VAT compliance for legal entities. Work with tax and VAT compliance partners and Waystone Group Tax and VAT Function to execute tax and VAT reporting obligations and implement Group Policy. Ensure implementation of Transfer Pricing Policy of the Group.
• Ultimate ownership for entity inputs for Regulatory Compliance and ensure timely reporting for all reporting requirements.
• Ensure that all Finance's Policies and Procedures for Regulatory Compliance are implemented and adhered to. Drive enhancements to the Policies and Procedures and provide input into their design.
• Ensure preparation and filing of financial returns with regulatory authorities occurs where applicable.
• Be informed and knowledgeable on any regulatory changes that affect the reporting and filing of these returns. Lead the information and knowledge sharing amounts team members on these changes.
• Support internal audits, ensuring issues are addressed promptly, and relevant corrective actions are implemented.
Financial Operations & Efficiency
• Oversee the financial operations in UK, including working closely with General Ledger/Accountants, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable teams to ensure smooth and timely month-end closes and accurate financial records.
• Providing oversight to General Ledger/Accountants, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable teams, driving enhancements in finance operations.
• Review and enhance processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness across the finance function, supporting the Finance Transformation initiatives of the group.
• Ensure alignment of financial operations with the group's chart of accounts, systems, and policies.
Planning & Analysis
• Lead UK team's collaboration with the Waystone Financial Planning & Analysis ["FP&A"] Team, in particular the Country Finance Business Partner, to ensure delivery of Key Performance Indicators ("KPI") and Management Information required by Group Finance and Senior Country and Product leadership team to manage the business.
• Lead UK team's collaboration and interaction with the FP&A function to ensure the information is delivered accurately, timely and is effective in its use by Country for understanding financial reporting and in the decision making process.
• Lead UK team's collaboration with the FP&A Team in the preparation of the annual budget and quarterly forecasts.
• For each monthly report, ensure delivery of detailed variance analysis versus budget, forecast and prior year.
• Provide financial and commercial support and guidance to the broader operational team to help drive revenue growth and manage expenditure to contribute to Waystone's growth both locally and globally. In particular, work with management within Senior Product and Country Leadership in providing this support and guidance where necessary.
Strategic Initiatives and Collaboration
• Proactively participate in group-wide Finance Transformation initiatives, working closely with project teams to ensure effective implementation of new processes and systems.
• Collaborate with colleagues across different functions such as Tax, Treasury, FP&A, and Compliance to ensure seamless financial operations and reporting.
• Provide financial leadership on strategic initiatives in UK, including mergers, acquisitions, and market expansion efforts.
• Lead UK team's collaboration with the other Group finance functions (tax, VAT, treasury, and FP&A) and finance operations (Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable).
• Work with colleagues across the Waystone Group and within UK, ensuring effective collaboration, communication and development of solutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with Senior Product and Country Leadership, as well as Boards of Directors of entities within your control. Lead UK team's pro-active engagement with the Boards and ensure timely and accurate response to queries, actions and delivery of deliverables.
• Manage the current relationships with third-party suppliers, servicers and outsourced providers.
• Assistance with ad-hoc and project requirements where necessary. Being informed and knowledge and ensuring information and knowledge sharing across team for industry, technical, tax and regulatory changes and topics. In particular, be aware of such changes surrounding all products and the Irish market.
Team Development and Leadership
• Develop, mentor, and manage a high-performing finance team, providing clear direction, training, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability within the finance team.
• Ensure consistent communication across all product lines and maintain strong working relationships with Group Finance, Country Finance Business Partner, Product and Country Leaders and Boards of Directors.
REQUIREMENTS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Waystone has an open and inclusive culture, and we encourage candidates from varied backgrounds and experiences to apply.
Education:
• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field; a professional accounting qualification is preferred.
• Recent and relevant post qualified experience.
Experience:
• Minimum of 8-10 years of post-qualified experience in financial control or similar senior finance role.
• Broad experience in Asset Management Industry required.
• Strong experience with financial reporting, management accounting and compliance requirements, including within a regulated environment.
• Strong experience with IFRS accounting standards and regulatory compliance in a regulated environment.
• Proven leadership experience, including managing multi-product and multi-entity financial operations.
• Strong communicator who can deliver important messaging to the business and is able to prepare financial presentations.
• Advanced proficiency in financial management systems and Microsoft Office Suite and Sage Intacct.
• Proven accounts system knowledge and multi-IT system exposure is essential including advanced Salesforce, Sage Intacct, Excel skills and PowerPoint skills.
• Must be highly adaptable, with an exceptionally organized approach, in addition to having impeccable oral and written communication skills across all disciplines.