Group Financial Controller

Group Financial Controller – International Professional Services

London, Hybrid

Mallory Partners is retained by a high-growth, international professional services group to appoint a Group Financial Controller.

Operating across Europe, Asia and Australia, the business has grown significantly in recent years through a combination of organic growth and acquisition. As a result, the scale and complexity of the Group has developed considerably and there is now an opportunity to strengthen and professionalise the financial control and reporting environment to support the next phase of growth - a mandate that extends well beyond conventional reporting and compliance into how the Group's finance function is built and run.

Reporting to the Global CFO, the Group Financial Controller will take ownership of the Group's financial control, reporting and transactional finance capabilities. They will lead the central controllership team while also having significant influence across regional finance teams internationally.

A major part of the role will be to shape what best practice looks like and then deliver it. This will include strengthening the financial control framework, improving and accelerating month-end, developing Group accounting policies and processes, improving working capital and cash management, and driving greater consistency, automation and professionalism across the finance function.

There is also a significant systems and data agenda, with the business progressively moving towards greater standardisation across its international operations.

The successful candidate is likely to bring:

• A recognised accounting qualification, ideally ACA or equivalent
• Strong Group Financial Controller / senior controllership experience within a complex, multi-entity business
• Significant international experience, including working across geographically dispersed finance teams
• A demonstrable track record of transforming and professionalising a financial control/reporting function, rather than simply maintaining an established environment
• Strong Group reporting, consolidation, controls, audit and balance sheet experience
• Experience of improving month-end, transactional finance and working capital processes
• Exposure to acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses
• Experience of finance systems, data and process automation
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to influence regional teams without necessarily having direct reporting lines
• High levels of energy, pace and personal ownership

Experience within private equity-backed, high-growth or acquisitive businesses would be particularly relevant. Professional services experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Just as importantly, this needs to be someone who gets things done: proactive, pragmatic, low ego and comfortable getting into the detail when required. The successful individual will have the opportunity to materially shape the Group finance function and build a controllership environment capable of supporting substantial further growth.