Financial Controller

As our new Controller, International Offices (IOs) you will be responsible and accountable for the first line defence control environment for IOs globally, by ensuring effective central oversight is provided, through defining and implementing robust control and monitoring processes. You will be responsible and accountable for ensuring that IOs comply with all regulatory and OUP Group Accounting Policies within the processes in the UK and overseas territories. Responsible for documenting any deviation from Group Accounting Policies and seeking Group Finance Director approval. To be successful in this role, you will be a leader - someone who is a technically astute accountant who is engaging and insightful and responsive. Other duties will include:

• Responsible and accountable for the integrity of the IO financial accounts, ensuring that reconciliations have been performed between local statutory accounts and OUP management accounts. Ensure that systems and processes are adapted to accommodate business needs and Group reporting requirements.
• Lead on projects regarding the status/set up/closure of international entities to meet business requirements, ensuring Group Tax, Legal, HR, and Treasury advice is sought and adhered to throughout the process, and all stakeholders are informed.
• Manage third party accounting and payroll provider relationships relating to IOs. Onboarding new suppliers, setting expectation on service levels required by OUP in regard to monthly submissions, and control processes and procedures.
• Identify and recommend best practices for streamlining and standardizing working practices (e.g. rollout of T&E system across all entities to ensure consistency across divisions).
• Responsible for the OUP IO Manual, defining the processes and procedures, and ensuring these are implemented consistently across all IOs. Responsible for approving local T&E guidelines, ensuring consistency of approach and adherence to Group T&E guidelines and principles.
• Responsible for authorization of all IO funding, balancing the requirement for sufficient funds to be held locally for the entity to remain liquid, against protecting the Group from any potential loss due to excessive levels of funds being held (adverse FX movements, fraudulent activity).
• Responsible for informing DFDs, BPs and Financial Planning and Analysis team (FP&A) of all relevant data relating to IOs to ensure the business operates within all the appropriate Legal, Tax, and regulator frameworks.
• Responsible for chairing regular geographical meetings to update on matters related to IO with Tax, legal, HR FP&A and Business Partners involved
• Responsible for addressing group and subsidiary audit queries relating to IOs
• Responsible for the timely closure of audit points in IOs, liaising with all parties to resolve issues.
• Represent IOs on Group projects, ensuring the requirements of the offices are raised and included.
• Attend Group Tax and Treasury meetings, managing the OUP's tax exposure by implementing compliant transfer pricing policies.
• Responsible for maintaining database for international offices and internal website
• Manage, develop and motivate the International Office accountant in an environment of continuous improvement, so that they perform their roles effectively.
  
  Essential:
• Accountancy qualification with a clear understanding of accounting/regulatory requirements
• Clear understanding of accounting/regulatory frameworks
• Self-starter with strong analytical and investigative skills
• Confident and persuasive communicator with people of all levels
Desirable:
• Global experience of operating within Finance
• Firm grasp of key business processes and best practices
  
  We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind we offer 25 days' holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect to working patterns, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies.
We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 12%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts.