Financial Controller - Shared Services

We’re partnering with a leading international business to recruit a Financial Controller that will embed into the controllership team that forms part of their European Shared Service Centre.

This is a high-profile role with a clear mandate: transform and elevate the function into a best-in-class, insight-led finance operation. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how finance supports a complex, multi-entity European business moving from transactional delivery to true value-add.

If you’re looking for a role where you can drive change, influence senior stakeholders, and build a high-performing team, this is a standout opportunity.

Financial Controller – Shared Services – Benefits

• 25 days Paid holidays
• Salary Exchange Pension scheme
• Non Contributory Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance
• Group Income protection

Financial Controller – Shared Services – About The Role

Reporting to the Director of European Shared Services, you will take full ownership of the controllership agenda across multiple European entities:

• Act as the European controllership lead for R2R, ensuring strong governance, consistency and best practice
• Take accountability for the integrity, accuracy and completeness of financial records
• Own balance sheet governance, including reconciliations, reviews, risk identification and issue resolution
• Oversee accruals, provisions, estimates, ensuring robust documentation and review
• Ensure alignment between management, statutory and tax reporting
• Lead the end-to-end close process (month, quarter, year-end), ensuring deadlines are met with high quality output
• Manage day-to-day operations within the Controllership team, setting priorities and resolving escalations
• Review journals, reconciliations and reporting packs, ensuring a “first-time right” approach
• Drive consistency and discipline across multiple entities and reporting lines
• Deliver insightful monthly reporting, variance analysis and performance commentary

Audit, Compliance & Controls

• Own the relationship with external auditors, leading audit planning, execution and issue resolution
• Ensure ongoing SOX compliance and a robust internal control environment
• Drive a culture of continuous audit readiness and proactive risk management
• Strengthen and embed financial controls across all processes

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team (c.10–15 FTE), both direct and indirect
• Set clear objectives, KPIs and service levels across the function
• Upskill the team from transactional processing to true financial control and analysis
• Create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and service excellence

Process Improvement & Transformation

• Drive the standardisation and optimisation of processes across Europe
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce close cycle time and enhance reporting quality
• Champion automation and better use of systems (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream)
• Play a key role in ongoing finance transformation and system enhancement initiatives

Stakeholder & Business Partnering

• Act as a key interface between Shared Services, local finance teams and Group Finance
• Partner with operational and finance stakeholders to improve reporting and support decision-making
• Translate complex accounting issues into clear, actionable insights
• Promote the SSC as a value-adding, customer-focused finance function

The successful Financial Controller – Shared Services will have:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent)
• Strong controllership background with ownership of financial reporting and close processes
• Experience in a complex, multi-entity, international environment
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (IFRS / US GAAP) and controls (SOX preferred)
• Hands‑on leader, comfortable operating both strategically and at detail level
• Proven track record of process improvement, transformation and team development
• Strong systems experience (SAP S/4HANA, OneStream or similar preferred)

Howett Thorpe complies with all relevant UK legislation and does not discriminate on any protected characteristics.