Head Office & IT Business Partner in London

Head Office & IT Business Partner

Location: London      

Salary: Competitive
Closing Date: 30/05/18                                                                                                                                    

Job purpose: Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, the Head Office & Business Partner has day-to-day responsibility for the London Head Office & Cost Controlling function. The role has overarching responsibility for financial reporting and control for the group's head office companies, including monthly management accounts, oversight of AP processes, ongoing overhead cost monitoring and control for Corporate functions, business partnering support for Head Office Budget holders, and annual statutory reporting for Corporate entities. The role also owns the Budgeting and Forecasting process for the Corporate segment. In addition the holder of the role is responsible for reporting and controlling Group-wide IT spend (both capex and opex) and for providing business partnering support to the Group IT function

   Key accountabilities and decision ownership:

• Proactively and individually manages the Corporate segment financial result to ensure that costs are tightly controlled and performance is within budget. Leads and directs the activities of the Head Office & Cost Controlling team to ensure that the Corporate close process and submission of monthly Corporate segment reporting is efficient and in compliance with Group policies and timetable
• Leads on the design, establishment of and compliance with Group-wide policies and procedures  for intercompany transactions and recharges; liaising with Group Tax on transfer pricing implications and ensuring that associated processes are cost-effective and efficient. Ensures adherence to policy by Corporate entities and influences finance leaders of other segments
• Owns, oversees and manages the preparation of half yearly and annual financial statements/statutory reporting/reporting packs for corporate companies and leads the relationship with external auditors for the audit of these entities
• Owns the production of and is individually responsible for the presentation to senior management (C-Suite) of Corporate Segment and Group-wide IT budgets, including agreement of recharges.
• Liaises closely with and influences Group IT Leadership to set budget for and manage Group-wide IT spend (opex and capex). Owns processes to assess, manage, monitor, challenge and report on IT operating costs and capital spend across the Group, directing a team of analysts in order to do so
• Uses own experience and commercial knowledge to provide business partnering support to Group IT function, including providing guidance and financial advice, monitoring and controlling group-wide projects, assessing returns on investments and tracking actual performance against business cases
• Manages current processes, controls and standards, suggesting and creating improvements where appropriate, and directs the team to ensure best practice is adopted going forward
• Co-ordinates and supervises Head Office & Cost Controlling team members, providing development, coaching and mentoring to build an effective team        

Skills, know-how and experience:

Must have:

• Excellent business partnering skills with experience of working in and influencing in a matrix organisation
• Awareness of an IT function from a previous role
• Experience of controlling costs and challenging budget holders
• Advanced numerical and analytical skills
• Strong communication skills; and confident in communicating with senior stakeholders
• Proven track record of improving processes and implementing controls
• Team leadership: ability to prioritise, co-ordinate deadlines and lead and manage a team through change
• Self-starter with can do attitude who excels in a dynamic, ambiguous environment and has a creative approach to problem solving
• Excellent computer skills – particularly Excel, ppt
• Experience of Cognos Controller and/or TM1 and/or SAP
• Experience of multi-currency consolidations

Technical / professional qualifications:

• Qualified accountant (ACA)