Financial Controller

Financial Controller 

Leicester 

Salary: £ competitive + car allowance + Bonus + Pension + Store discount

Parkinson Lee Executive Search, part of the Elevation recruitment group, are acting as retained recruitment partner to Selfridges in the appointment of a Financial Controller to based in Leicester.

At Selfridges extraordinary experiences are not only for customers, but team members too. They offer all team members the chance to be a part of something unique where they can enjoy careers that provide inspiring experiences, exciting challenges and great benefits.

Selfridges is committed to developing their talent, which allows for a wide scope of amazing opportunities as the business continues to grow. 

Living Selfridge's values is essential to the way the business works day to day, encouraging greater social responsibility amongst team members.

Selfridges have being named ‘Best Department Store in the World' on three consecutive occasions in a row (2010, 2012 & 2014) and most recently being awarded the title of ‘World's Best Sustainability Campaign by a Department Store' at the Global Department Store Summit 2016, Selfridges today is more than just the sum of its products. It's a shopping experience that promises to surprise, amaze and amuse and to this day, as Harry Gordon Selfridge said, ‘Everyone is welcome'.

With their Vision, to be the destination for the most extraordinary customer experience, innovative and iconic ways to make this a reality are never too far away.

Team members across their business strive to keep the Vision a reality through the values they live day to day and the stories they make, tell and share.

Selfridges has outperformed the retail sector in recent years with significant and consistent growth in sales year on year. With a clearly defined set of values, the business delivers an extraordinary customer experience and recognises the importance of its people, who they know are central to their success 

The business is committed to continued growth and development and has already made significant & unrivalled investment in all areas of its operations. As a result of recent growth and success, this investment is on-going and in addition the business is now looking to re-organise a number of business critical functions including a Finance Transformation, as a result, an outstanding opportunity has arisen for a Financial Controller. 

Reporting to the Finance Director, this is a high profile, newly created role and will manage all of the core accounting functions based in at the Leicester Shared Service Centre, namely Accounts Payable Payroll and Expenses. It will also manage the successful transfer of the statutory accounting, fixed asset management and treasury function from its current London base to the Leicester site, with responsibility for building a new team to deliver this service. 

In addition, over the next 18 months this role will also play a critical part in the successful implementation of a new accounting system. Particular focus will be required on the change management aspects impacting the operation, both in terms of team structure and ways of working, and the successful individual should look to this as an opportunity for change and improvement, being proactive at reviewing and developing our financial controls as the business continues to grow significantly in size and complexity. 

Key Responsibilities Include: 

• Preparation of statutory accounts and all other regulatory returns for all 
relevant statutory entities (eg tax/VAT/ONS returns) 
• Full understanding of corporate structure and associated intercompany 
transactions and relationships (eg loans, tax entries, transfer pricing) 
• Ensuring robust balance sheet control and reconciliation process 
• Monthly preparation of consolidated management accounts liaising with 
London Finance Business Partners, Internal Audit and group Finance 
• Balance sheet and cashflow budgeting 
• Control/Maintenance of fixed and intangible asset register 
• Key contact with tax advisors, auditors and banks 
• Direct the treasury actions of the business including cashflow reporting, 
forecasting, FX and hedging strategies 
• Ensure compliance with tax requirements (VAT/corporation tax) 
• Develop and document business processes and accounting policies 
• Manage AP and Payroll functions ensuring appropriate service to Irish 
banners for AP 
• Regularly review and challenge the financial processes and controls of the 
organisation to the standards consistent with an leading UK Retail 
organisation 
• Manage a team of 4 direct reports - but wider team of circa 50 

The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant with at least 6-8 years post qualification experience. 

You will have a solid statutory/financial accounting background gained in practice.

You will be an individual passionate about setting and delivering exceptional standards and comfortable working in and driving an environment of continuous review and improvement. 

You should be a strong leader and possess first rate inter personal and communications skills with the gravitas to influence credibly with a cross functional group of stake holders at Director level. 

This is an outstanding and career enhancing opportunity that offers continuous personal development and growth. 

As a new appointment within the business you will have the scope to put your own stamp on the role and be pivotal in the creation of a highly visible and highly valued team within the business

This role's key benefits includes 35 days holiday including bank holidays, potential for performance related bonus, subsidised gym membership offer, pension contribution and not to mention a generous staff discount!