Global Accounting Director (Maternity Cover)

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Company Description

Informa is a leading academic publishing, business intelligence, knowledge, and events business, creating unique content and connectivity for customers all over the world. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.

Taylor & Francis is one of the world's largest publishers of high-quality, peer reviewed scholarly journals, books, e-books and reference works. We empower learners, thinkers and doers with trusted knowledge that advances research and enriches lives. We bring together diverse people, ideas and opinions to validate and publish the experts, theories and truths that matter. And we've been doing this in an unbroken arc since 1798.

Our purpose is to foster human progress through knowledge. We strongly believe that this requires us to encourage and examine different ideas and voices, so that any work that meets our exacting levels of quality deserves to be included in our publications. This requires open minds, the opportunity for robust debate, and the courage to defend perspectives that stand up to scrutiny, even if they conflict with our personal beliefs or values. Because that's the only way to find the best obtainable version of the truth and, ultimately, foster human progress. If you agree, then we'd love to hear from you.

What we offer in return:

At Taylor & Francis we care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. You will be joining a thriving business, working alongside an exceptional group of people. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about.

Job Description

12 Month Maternity Cover Role

As the Global Accounting Director reporting directly to the CFO this role serves as a key member of the Finance Leadership team. A high-profile position providing financial control and assurance through accurate data delivery while leading Order-to-Cash and Record-to-Report Finance teams.

As the principal business partner to Group Finance, Global Support, Tax, and Internal Audit the Global Accounting Director will be responsible for developing a strategic vision and financial control roadmap for the Controllership function, including organisation design and budget management to effectively build high-performing teams, providing high-value service, creating a finance ecosystem built on quality data and technology solutions which drive informed decision making whilst balancing audit and internal compliance.

Financial Control and Accounting:

• Provide confidence that our reporting is always right through rigorous financial controls and processes, as well as providing valuable insights, which help our colleagues to make the informed and effective decisions
• Develop, document and implement robust processes and controls by conducting in-depth controls assessment and implement remediations within the to-be process design
• Measure and publish the outcomes of the to-be processes post-completion, proposing remedial actions for any aspects of the processes that are underperforming against targets
• Work closely with Group Finance, lead on all financial statements reporting (internal and external), deliver accurately having complied with accounting standards
• Drive a culture of integrity through operating a disciplined and transparent approach to Balance Sheet assurance, ensuring all transactions are recorded and reported correctly. Line management responsibility for the Overheads/Working Capital Accountant in support of these responsibilities

Working Capital / Cash Flow reporting:

• Work closely with Group Treasury to define and drive strategy and support cash flow management requirements through monitoring and balancing cash flows into and out of Taylor and Francis
• Responsible for the monthly working capital and cash flow analysis within the R2R team, feeding the monthly reporting with analysis and commentary in accordance with the published timetable
• Manage the cash flow and working capital budget and forecast for the monthly full year re-forecast. Be the main point of contact with the business for your division/s
• Identify targets for cash flow improvement and support in that capacity

O2C Key Accounts Leadership:

• Ensure we are optimising our cash collections and proactively collecting all outstanding monies / setting & meeting cash collection targets, through:
• Managing the T&F in-house O2C team (7 FTE) (Cash Application and Credit Management) serving the division's key trade accounts
• Managing the BPO, setting and managing against performance targets, ensuring that they are operating in accordance with our credit terms and policies
• Lead on reporting of WC related data & metrics within Finance and to non-Finance stakeholders
• Helping the business maintain effective and positive relationships with our key accounts
• Oversight of the division's bank accounts and minimising unallocated cash
• Ensure that BPO results and projections are incorporated within overall numbers Shape and monitor the effectiveness of T&F's credit policy

Team Management:

• Ensure that appropriate People Development tools are utilised throughout your team consistently and fairly to ensure optimum performance of all colleagues concentrating on both technical and soft skill development in conjunction with local HR colleagues
• Continuously improve performance through planning and prioritisation
• Encourage an environment in which people value diversity either in recruitment, team formation and/or in developing plans and strategies
• Bring team members into discussions so that they can contribute their ideas, are involved in setting team objectives and feel engaged on issues that affect them
• Support, assist and cover team members where necessary

General Management

• Ensure that issues are escalated as appropriate to senior management in a timely manner
• Ensure communications are handled between the Shared Services Organisation ("SSO"), Group Finance and the Business Teams
• To be involved with any acquisition integration/due diligence
• Working on projects within the SSO and department including key process testing & systems
• Working with internal and external auditors
• Assist in the accounting integration of new products into the SSO accounting structure and systems
• Analyse and solve ad-hoc problems using knowledge of business and systems
• Lead the education and transfer of knowledge of cash flow and working capital across Global Accounting

Qualifications

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong experience of working capital management
• Advanced Excel skills are essential, knowledge of TM1 or similar system so can learn to self-serve
• Excellent understanding of the levers of working capital and O2C and R2R processes
• Holistic business knowledge with an understanding of the operational complexities of large multinational organisations particularly of a matrix organisational structure
• Mature and proactive attitude, with excellent judgment and problem-solving skills
• A flexible and agile mentality able to quickly adapt and respond to changing work pressures and prioritises
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to present and explain complex issues succinctly and clearly to stakeholders at all levels of the business
• A curious outlook - known for asking the right questions of the right stakeholders. The ability to research and get answers whilst bringing exceptional levels of detail orientation to yours and others' work
• Highly collaborative, emotionally intelligent and someone people are excited to work with.
• Extremely well organised and comfortable managing a significant and varied workload across global time zones that needs constant prioritisation
• Programme management skills with a proven ability to get things done, not deterred by the changing or evolving nature of a project
• Strong technical aptitude, aware of the evolving nature of technology, able to utilise technology in day to day working
• Evidence of making decisions at the right time based on the information available

Additional Information

We believe that great things happen when people connect face-to-face. That's why we work in-person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you're not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces - like at conference - you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely.

The successful candidate will be able to utilise our balanced working model. We ask that candidates live within a commutable distance of our officesto ensure that as a balanced worker they can make it to our office locations to collaborate as required. There is an expectation for a minimum of 3 days per week in-person time with at least one day per week spent in our office in Milton Park, Oxfordshire. The remainder of your in-person time can be spent in either Milton Park or Colchester.

If you have a disability, or face another barrier, and would like to request an adjustment to assist your participation in the hiring process and/or in the advertised position, please contact Emma Kelly. Your request will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

Closing date: October 3rd, 2025.

Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa Business

We want all our candidates to shine in our recruitment process. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ensure you can show us your best self. This could include having the application form in a different format, having more time for questions, or anything else. Please ask us; we are happy to be flexible! Please contact recruitment@tandf.co.uk

Being Yourself at Taylor & Francis

If you're excited about working with Taylor & Francis to foster human progress through knowledge, we invite you to apply even if your existing skills and experience don't fit every item listed above. At Taylor & Francis, we are at our best and most successful when colleagues can be themselves and contribute regardless of their identity or background. As a colleague, you will have the opportunity to further innovate and develop in areas that you are passionate about. Our goal is to empower you with the resources, incentives, and flexibility you need to enjoy success at work and to live a healthy, balanced life.

Taylor & Francis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in and value diversity of people and thought, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all colleagues can learn and succeed as their true selves. Taylor & Francis recruits, develops, and retains colleagues without regard to any protected personal characteristics or other non-merit-based factor.

We genuinely care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about. To find out more about our business and the great career opportunities please go to our Careers Site: http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/careers

Or better yet check out our LinkedIn 'Life' Page, highlighting our accomplishments, employees, and company culture. It's also a good way of meeting our recruitment team, who will be happy to advise you on your journey here at T&F.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-&-francis-group/life/79e0c27c-af...