Financial Controls Consultant

We have a fantastic opportunity for a financial controls contractor to join us on an initial 6 months basis. Prospective candidates will be qualified accountants, with exposure to risk/controls & based within a commutable distance to London or Birmingham, Job Summary: This role will be a proactive member of the global financial controls team supporting the implementation and ongoing delivery of our group reporting controls framework, with a focus on the control delivery for the Finance Enterprise Systems and Change (FESC) programme's release 2.,

• Understand and deliver the requirements of the reporting control framework


• Support the delivery of the financial controls team plan


• Design, understand and agree key controls to add value and effectively control Finance processes being implemented, leveraging existing mechanisms.


• Document key controls in line with our framework and internal control best practice.


• Support and contribute to the delivery of effective process mapping of new and re-engineered processes, with controls identified and overlayed


• Design and document test procedures to ensure the operating effectiveness of key controls


• Support the business, namely Finance Change delivery teams, with financial control subject matter expertise to enhance conceptualized controls or encourage implementation of new controls


• Engage with key stakeholders, namely finance change delivery teams and the global finance team, but also other in scope departments, compliance, risk management, internal audit and third party auditor


• Support the deployment, onboarding and maintenance of the GRC tool.


Change assurance and other responsibilities:

• Be engaged in and support change and transformational activities across the Group, ensuring that internal control requirements are satisfactorily addressed, designed and documented.


• Participate on projects / initiatives as appropriate, providing advice and guidance in respect of new or reengineered processes, ensuring shared awareness of new system implementations, control change implications, and testing results.


• Act as control champion when implementing change across the Group to ensure that Control Framework requirements are delivered to relevant parties.


Decision-making responsibilities:

• Work within the guidelines agreed by the Head of Financial Control, Senior Manager of Financial Controls, Manager Financial Controls (Change)
  
  Qualification in Accounting or Internal Auditing with good working knowledge of balance sheet and income statement dynamics and ability to develop appropriate risk measurement techniques.


• Experience in public accounting, internal audit, control, risk or other activities that directly align with the specific responsibilities for this position.


• Basic understanding of risk management and audit principles and practices with particular focus on financial reporting, operational and business process risks.



• Knowledgeable with current industry standards such as COSO, and has strong relationships with private sector counterparts.


• First-hand operational experience at system and process levels, including process re-engineering, root cause and business analysis.


• Analytical approach with ability to work systematically and unsupervised, to tight deadlines and with multiple competing priorities.


• Pragmatic problem-solver with commercial awareness and a flexible, collaborative approach.


• Self-motivated, organised and able to assimilate, manage and communicate salient details relating to large volumes of information, including technical issues and data.


• Demonstrable ability to communicate with project teams and advise on operational implications of business requirements and change delivery risks.


• A self-starter and independent learner who takes the initiative to challenge the status quo and is creative and comfortable with 'blank sheet of paper' assignments.


• Good written and oral communication skills. Influencing and report-writing experience with a high standard of English is a pre-requisite.


• IT-literate with good numerical skills. Good knowledge of database management.


• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (particularly Visio, Excel, PowerPoint, Word and SharePoint.


Aptitude and Disposition

Active listening; Customer focused; Options definition and analysis; Problem solving; Creative thinker; Drive and delivery orientation; strong confidence and ability to manage dialogues; ability to empathise and collaborate with stakeholders across functions., Strategic thinking; Analytical; Planning; Documenting; Purposeful communication; Technical competence/expertise; Organisational and project management; Embracing diversity; Business performance and delivery; Relationship management; Corporate governance and compliance.