Financial Controller

New England Seafood International - who are we?
We are a premium supplier of fresh fish, value added fish products and raw ready to eat fish to all the major UK retailers and to food service customers in the UK. We have nearly 500 employees based in our manufacturing site in Chessington, Surrey and nearly 100 based in our manufacturing site in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. We are also joint partners with Comptoir Oceaniques, a French company, in Joii Sushi that providing sushi to all the major sushi chains in the UK. Joii Sushi has its base in Chessington and has manufacturing facilities in Boulogne, France.

We are at an exciting time in the group's development and are in the process of making important steps in a transformational growth plan:

• Completed the acquisition of greater production capacity
• Progressing the next generation of value added products in the retail and food service fish category
• Driving an ambitious category led growth agenda
• Developing an innovative branded offer to fulfil rapidly developing consumer needs

Our core purpose is to enhance lives through fish. Our vision is to be the “go to” partner, loved by our customers, chosen for our species and famous for consumer-led innovation, in showing people how to enjoy fish every day. Our organisation is category led, organised by our core species of Tuna, Wild Salmon, Sea Bass & Sea Bream, and deeply connected to our customers.

Our values run through our business and are Respect, Customer Care, By Learning we Grow, Team Spirit and Integrity.

The Shared Services Finance team deals with all transaction processing, maintains all financial ledgers (including stock system records), financial controls within the business, standard commercial reporting and statutory accounting and reporting.

At present, the team accounts for New England Seafood International Ltd and Joii Sushi Ltd. With the acquisition of Albert Darnell Ltd (based in Grimsby) the group is now in the early stages of planning to add the financial accounting of that company into the responsibility of the Shared Services Finance Team. At present, the Finance Shared Services Team comprises 2 qualified accountants and 11 experienced staff. The team offers roles which are filled by our graduate management trainees who work on a 6 month's rota gaining experience in the finance function.

What is the purpose of this role?
The primary purpose of this role is to maintain accurate, up-to-date books of account and protect the integrity of the financial records. This requires the delivery of fast, efficient, accurate processing of financial transactions and then to report the outcome in easily understandable, succinct ways to the benefit of the user base. The aim is to achieve this more efficiently than would be the case if each business unit had its own accounting, but without losing the benefits of local knowledge. This requires systemisation of transactions and an ability to utilise automation where appropriate.

The Financial Controller Shared Services leads the team that processes transactions (in some cases initiated at sites) through the ledgers, until successfully turned into cash transactions. The team then services its internal customers (commercial teams and the senior management) with the quality information they require to fulfil their roles, operate their controls and to manage the commercial business. This role is responsible for managing the financial accounting shared services team to:

• Provide the group with an efficient, controlled, accurate, timely financial accounting transaction processing and recording service
• Deliver a pre-agreed set of standard commercial reports, according to the group timetable, to a range of internal customers and to develop the standard reporting in line with the development of management requirements
• Ensure that there are robust, properly documented financial controls operated within the business and that there is a real appreciation of the need for such controls
• Liaise with other departments who operate controls which impact on financial reporting, and the complete recording of assets and liabilities
• Oversee the day to day cash management of the group
• Safeguard the groups' adherence to all reporting deadlines both for internal customers and for all external deadlines e.g. statutory accounting reporting, taxation and other financial reporting against legislative requirements and to government bodies
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve the efficiency of transaction processing both through improvements in processes and in adopting greater automation

In addition, the role must support the people agenda for the team to support the development of the individuals within the team and to provide them with challenging work that improves their experience and capabilities.

This is a key role within the group. The role will inter-act directly with heads of department across the business. In fulfilling this role, the individual will be a key part of strengthening and building a successful, scalable commercial enterprise.

Accountabilities - what am I expected to do or deliver?

Reporting & Controls

• Accurately and efficiently process transactions through all financial systems to produce accurate weekly and monthly accounts with minimum effort
• Enforce group accounting timetables and policies
• Drive the capture of the relevant data to support a low cost, high efficiency model for transaction processes, the maintenance of financial ledgers, and all standard report generation
• Ensure proper, robust financial controls exist, are understood and adhered to throughout the business
• Devise, document and deliver fully documented month end reporting, demonstrating control and reviews performed
• Prepare high quality year end files for audit purposes
• Review accounting for all taxes to ensure returns are properly prepared
• Develop and deliver against Service Level Agreements established between the Shared Services function and key business stakeholders
• Maintain the accuracy of the cash flow models to manage cash and currency positions
• Prepare forecast/budget models and actualise forecasts month by month
• Meet reporting targets and deadlines to all internal customers of the shared services function

People Management

• To manage the team's activities to deliver reporting to deadlines
• Develop the financial accounting team's capability both technically and their personal development

Systems & Change

• Work in alignment with the Shared Services Finance Director to deliver business system improvements across the Group
• Develop a finance reporting capability commensurate with the business needs day to day and fit for purpose for the future
• Support in the development and implementation of systems improvements that move the business away from a spreadsheet environment
• Develop effective use of Sage and its reporting capability

How will my success be measured?

• Delivery against key implementation milestones for process improvements within the financial accounting, process and control, and stock management initiatives
• Delivery of a common framework and standard for information and reporting across multiple sites
• Accuracy, timeliness, and utility of standard information provided to the business
• Engagement and effective leadership of the Finance Shared Services team as measured through internal means

What experiences, knowledge and capabilities do I need to demonstrate?

To be successful in this role you should be able to demonstrate experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment or role. The successful individual will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively with non-financial management.

Essential

• Recognised accountancy qualification
• Strong financial accounting experience in medium sized / large FMCG or manufacturing business
• Evidence of running a tight finance function in a standalone business
• Experience running a well-established, large shared service centre will not be valued as highly as evidence of the ability to think innovatively about creating the right environment and demonstrating the flexibility to gaining users' trust
• Presence to police the procedures which are required for control, without negating innovative thinking
• Worked with group consolidations
• Operated effectively within a multi-site environment
• Large ERP system experience
• Experience of manufacturing with raw material stock holdings
• Strong business solutions software skills
• Strong interpersonal skills for interacting with accountants, internal customers for the information produced, including senior management
• Appreciation of the shared services ethos and track record of delivery to timescales

Desirable

• Sage Line 500/1000/X3 system experience
• Experience of multi-currency ledgers
• Experience of importing raw materials and finished goods

Some travel expected in order to support all locations within the group.