Group Senior Finance Controller (Maternity Cover)

Role Overview

The Group Finance Controller (Group FC) is the senior operational and technical

finance lead across the Group. The role is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely,

and consistent financial reporting, robust financial control, and strong compliance

across all departments and client portfolios.

The Group FC provides oversight, challenge, and strategic direction to Senior

Financial Controllers, ensuring departmental P&Ls, client delivery, systems usage, and

reporting outputs align with firm standards, the WS Way, and the Director of Accounts

strategic objectives.

This role focuses on group-wide governance, systems ownership (NetSuite and

Xero), risk management, and performance leadership, rather than day-to-day client

execution.

Key Responsibilities

Group Financial Control & Reporting

• Own and oversee the group month-end close process
• Review and sign off:
• Profit & Loss
• Balance Sheet
• Cashflow reporting
• Ensure consistency and accuracy of financial reporting across all departments
  
  

and clients

• Lead group consolidations, including intercompany reconciliations and
  
  

eliminations

• Maintain high standards of balance sheet integrity, including:
• Accruals, prepayments, and provisions
• Control accounts and reconciliations
• Ensure management accounts are aligned with statutory and audit positions
  
  

Statutory, Audit & Compliance Oversight

• Lead preparation and oversight of statutory accounts across group entities as
  
  

Required

• Own the year-end audit process, managing external auditors and internal
  
  

readiness

• Ensure compliance with:
• Local GAAP / IFRS (as applicable)
• Corporation tax, VAT, and statutory filings
• Act as escalation point for complex accounting judgements and compliance
  
  

risks

• Support the Director of Accounts on audit strategy, tax planning, and regulatory
  
  

matters

Systems Ownership NetSuite & Xero

• Act as group-level owner of finance systems, including:

NetSuite (multi-entity structures, consolidations, approvals, reporting,

controls)

Xero (multi-company environments, integrations, reporting frameworks)

Set and enforce system standards, controls, and best practice

Drive automation, standardisation, and process improvement across teams

Support system implementations, migrations, and upgrades

Ensure data integrity, audit-ready outputs, and strong approval frameworks

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and develop Senior Financial Controllers, ensuring:
• Clear ownership of departmental P&Ls
• Strong client delivery and team morale
• Consistent adherence to timelines and deadlines
• Provide coaching, challenge, and mentorship to senior finance leaders
• Support performance management, succession planning, and leadership
  
  

development

• Embed and champion the WS Way across all finance teams
  
  

Strategy, Risk & Performance

• Translate Director of Accounts strategy into clear operational frameworks
• Oversee financial risk management across departments and client portfolios

Desirable

• Experience in an accounting firm or outsourced finance environment
• Hospitality, retail, or multi-site business exposure
• Systems implementation or automation leadership
• Experience operating in fast-growth or complex group structures
  
  

What Good Looks Like

• High-quality, on-time, and audit-ready group reporting
• Senior FCs operating with confidence, clarity, and accountability
• Strong grip on timelines, deadlines, and delivery risk
• Consistent processes, controls, and systems usage across the group
• Clear, effective communication at all levels
• Sound judgement on complex accounting and compliance matters
• Successful automation and systems optimisation
• Strong talent development and succession planning
• High client satisfaction and trusted advisor status
• KPIs consistently met, reviewed, and elevated
• Visible ownership and leadership aligned with the WS Way
  
  

Company Overview

Williams, Stanley & Co is a leading accountancy firm catering to a diverse range of clients in the hospitality industry, from high street chains to family-run cafes. Our company began with a mission to provide accurate and actionable financial insights to businesses, drawing from our founders' own experiences in managing multiple rapidly growing ventures. Driven by a commitment t

o customer-first accounting, we've assembled a team of experienced and trusted accountants who share our vision for excellence. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and expertise, our team operates seamlessly across different locations, including the UK, US, Philippines, and Dubai.

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