Financial Controller

European Sporting Brand
Home-based with minimal travel
Flexible working, preferably 3-4days/week

£50-60,000 pro rata – Based on c£35,000 for 3 days/wk

This disruptive sporting brand has gone from start-up to international success and trail-blazer in just 5 years. They are already spoken of alongside their market’s most prestigious and luxury brands, but the real strength of the business is in unique exposure and knowledge of the marketplaces, sports and experiences they operate in, as well as the quality of their products and strength of their leadership team – it is this that places them at the top of their market; spoken in the same breath the market’s biggest brands.

Exponential growth has lifted this business to their current strong reputation, assisted by international expansion, but their journey has still hardly begun. New products, new markets and even greater tie-ups with professional sport gives this business, and its ground-breaking products, an exceptionally bright future.

…but beyond their brand and growth success lies a highly innovative business model, together with strong funding that will drive the business to even greater success.

The business operates in a high-growth, exciting outdoor/leisure market with a personality that fits that sector. Replicating the fun engagement their customer-base enjoys, they have fostered an empowered, light-hearted and free/flexible environment for all team-members – performance success through fun and shared passion as much as hard-work and commitment. 

A key element of their future success is the appointment of a Financial Controller, an astute and commercial finance leader to take-over responsibility for the day-to-day management of financial and group reporting as well as add commentary and insight behind those numbers.

Working closely with the Finance Director to achieve the strategic & operational performance objectives of the business and drive though ever greater commercial understanding, you will be expected to apply good financial and commercial acumen to the role, provide succinct and timely financial reporting, proactively manage the cashflow forecasting/position, P&L and balance sheet of the business, add a layer of due diligence to the function and be able to effectively deputise for the FD when required.

Providing strong Financial Controls along with the ability to interpret, comment on and report accurately to the key stakeholders, they will also have the desire and ability to drive through continuous improvements within this growth business.

The appointee will be a Qualified Accountant, most likely from a Top-20 firm, with exposure to taxation to compliment robust financial reporting, ideally with a track record of success in a similar role for a fast-paced international service business/brand.

This is a still a small business, thus the role of Financial Controller will be hands-on, leading and liaising directly with the country accountants in each of the European locations, ultimately taking responsibility for all European finance except local filing. Successful applicants will have a strong control and reporting background, but also the ability to add commercial ‘nous’ as well as financial rigour. They will constantly follow successful outcomes by asking ‘What else can we do…?’

In addition to group reporting, the role holder will be responsible for co-ordinating annual budgets and monthly profit and cash forecasting. The successful candidate will be required to drive performance through up-skilling employee capability and re-engineering of processes where relevant.

Key Accountabilities

• Production of timely, relevant and accurate financial reporting
• Oversee submission of statutory reporting requirements 
• Hands-on control and management of Europe-wide accounting, overseeing and ensuring quality output from each location
• Ensure monthly sign off of payroll, expenses, DD tracker, purchase ledger payment runs
• Develop internal management reporting systems
• Develop internal control systems and processes to mitigate financial risks
• Production of annual budgets
• Store bonus target setting and performance
• Store performance monitoring and review
• Assisting with on-going commercial & financial performance 

Key Experience and Skills

• Tax and/or European experience would be an advantage
• ….as would an interest in cycling or other outdoor sports/leisure activities
• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing a Finance function in a fast-paced environment
• Resilient by nature, adaptable to change, passionate with a real desire to succeed
• Able to credibly communicate effectively at all levels internally and externally to the business
• Ability to present accurate financial data in a concise manner and has good attention to detail
• Can deliver to deadlines and thrives under pressure
• The ability to constantly question themselves and others as they strive for continuous improvement. 
• Have a clear knowledge of what they have done, but be more excited by what they can do.

This is an amazing opportunity for a finance professional, especially a cycling/outdoor sports fan, to join an exciting, fun environment and help design future success. 

This disruptive sporting brand has gone from start-up to international success and trail-blazer in just 5 years. They are already spoken of alongside their market’s most prestigious and luxury brands, but the real strength of the business is in unique exposure and knowledge of the marketplaces, sports and experiences they operate in, as well as the quality of their products and strength of their leadership team – it is this that places them at the top of their market; spoken in the same breath the market’s biggest brands.

Exponential growth has lifted this business to their current strong reputation, assisted by international expansion, but their journey has still hardly begun. New products, new markets and even greater tie-ups with professional sport gives this business, and its ground-breaking products, an exceptionally bright future.

…but beyond their brand and growth success lies a highly innovative business model, together with strong funding that will drive the business to even greater success.

The business operates in a high-growth, exciting outdoor/leisure market with a personality that fits that sector. Replicating the fun engagement their customer-base enjoys, they have fostered an empowered, light-hearted and free/flexible environment for all team-members – performance success through fun and shared passion as much as hard-work and commitment. 

A key element of their future success is the appointment of a Financial Controller, an astute and commercial finance leader to take-over responsibility for the day-to-day management of financial and group reporting as well as add commentary and insight behind those numbers.

Working closely with the Finance Director to achieve the strategic & operational performance objectives of the business and drive though ever greater commercial understanding, you will be expected to apply good financial and commercial acumen to the role, provide succinct and timely financial reporting, proactively manage the cashflow forecasting/position, P&L and balance sheet of the business, add a layer of due diligence to the function and be able to effectively deputise for the FD when required.

Providing strong Financial Controls along with the ability to interpret, comment on and report accurately to the key stakeholders, they will also have the desire and ability to drive through continuous improvements within this growth business.

The appointee will be a Qualified Accountant, most likely from a Top-20 firm, with exposure to taxation to compliment robust financial reporting, ideally with a track record of success in a similar role for a fast-paced international service business/brand.

This is a still a small business, thus the role of Financial Controller will be hands-on, leading and liaising directly with the country accountants in each of the European locations. Successful applicants will have a strong control and reporting background, but also the ability to add commercial ‘nous’ as well as financial rigour. They will constantly follow successful outcomes by asking ‘What else can we do…?’

In addition to group reporting, the role holder will be responsible for co-ordinating annual budgets and monthly profit and cash forecasting. The successful candidate will be required to drive performance through up-skilling employee capability and re-engineering of processes where relevant.

Key Accountabilities

• Production of timely, relevant and accurate financial reporting
• Oversee submission of statutory reporting requirements 
• Management, motivation and development of the European accounting team, overseeing and ensuring quality output from each location
• Ensure monthly sign off of payroll, expenses, DD tracker, purchase ledger payment runs
• Develop internal management reporting systems
• Develop internal control systems and processes to mitigate financial risks
• Production of annual budgets
• Store bonus target setting and performance
• Store performance monitoring and review
• Assisting with on-going commercial & financial performance 

Key Experience and Skills

• Qualified Accountant (preferably Top-20)
• Tax and/or European experience would be a distinct advantage
• ….as would an interest in cycling or other outdoor sports/leisure activities
• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing a Finance function in a fast-paced environment
• Resilient by nature, adaptable to change, passionate with a real desire to succeed
• Able to credibly communicate effectively at all levels internally and externally to the business
• Ability to present accurate financial data in a concise manner and has good attention to detail
• Can deliver to deadlines and thrives under pressure
• The ability to constantly question themselves and others as they strive for continuous improvement. 
• Have a clear knowledge of what they have done, but be more excited by what they can do.

This is an amazing opportunity for a finance professional to join an exciting, fun environment and help design future success.