Group Head of External Reporting and Accounting Policy 13 months FTC

OVERALL SUMMARY

At Close Brothers we look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity and are open to discuss flexible work options to help you balance your work and home life.

Working as part of the Group Finance Team, the Head of External Reporting and Accounting Policy will lead and be accountable for the production of the interim and year-end consolidated public accounts of Close Brothers Group plc. The individual will ensure compliance with all relevant accounting policies and standards as well as review and challenge all subsidiary submissions. The individual will maintain a relationship with and be a key point of contact for the external audit team, liaising with them throughout the year on all accounting issues.

The individual will act as the Group’s accounting policy expert and be the point of contact for accounting policy queries coming from senior finance members across the group (Finance Directors and Heads of Finance) as well as maintain the group’s accounting manual. The individual will give presentations to management and the Audit Committee on the impact to the group of any changes in accounting standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• External Reporting and Accounting Policy

  • Group lead for technical accounting matters
  • Be the key point of contact for subsidiaries
  • Provide ad-hoc advice as necessary for other group teams (e.g. Corp Dev)
  • Be the contact point with auditors on technical account matters
  • Draft papers for management/board as required
• Ownership of the plc consolidated interim and year-end financial statements
  • Co-ordinate population of the financial statements and associated disclosures during interim/year-end process
  • Ensure ongoing compliance with relevant accounting standards and disclosure requirements
  • Work closely with other central functions to facilitate completion of governance section of annual report ensuring a co-ordinated approach to the interim/year-end process
• Review and challenge of subsidiary submissions to ensure compliance with relevant standards/guidance
  • Interim and year-end financial reporting packs
  • Quarterly FINREP submissions
• Ownership of the Group Accounting Manual
  • Regular review and update
  • Act as the point of contact for any queries from subsidiaries
• Maintain key relationship with auditors
  • Take a lead role in the interim and year-end audit process including co-ordinating with external auditors and internal finance teams
  • Maintain contact with auditors throughout the year, liaising with them on key accounting matters
• Lead implementation of revised accounting standards as necessary
  • Deliver presentations to senior management and Audit Committee on the impact on the Group
  • Work with the finance teams around the group to ensure smooth implementation

Regulatory reporting:

• Responsible for the horizon scanning, policy and interpretations framework for PRA regulatory requirements relating to capital, liquidity and statistical reporting
• Responsible for the production and integrity of the group’s capital, liquidity and statistical reporting submitted to the PRA and BoE, including oversight of Axiom, a key go-forward regulatory reporting tool
•  Oversight of the Capital Adequacy Committee processes relating to regulatory reporting and regulatory policy, including delivery of ad-hoc capital papers and projects
• Co-ordination, preparation, and presentation of ad-hoc Board Risk Committee papers
• Member of Models Governance Committee participating in oversight of models used for IRB and IFRS 9
• Responsible for delivery of regulatory reporting remediation workstreams as well as meeting Dear CEO requirements set by the PRA

Supervise Group Financial Control team

• Review and oversight of all key procedures

• Monthly consolidation
• Regulatory reporting
• Month-end close
• Share-based awards
• Inter-company recharges

• Development and coaching of team members

Group Financial Accounting Expertise

• Provide financial accounting expertise to the Bank central team
  • Be the point of contact for queries on financial and regulatory reporting
  • Challenge & oversight of current process to ensure consistency across teams

• Provide expertise to Bank Financial Control team as necessary

Risk & Compliance

• Ensure that all Governance and Compliance requirements are adhered to and all reporting and reviewing activities required by the Regulatory Bodies are carried out to the standards required

FOR LINE MANAGER ADVERTS:

Developing Our People: as a line manager, you will be responsible for inspiring and motivating your team, as well as developing performance through coaching. You will encourage your team to take responsibility for their own personal development and provide support through regular feedback.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF:

• Auditing or similar experience at a large accounting firm
• Experience in a financial control function of a FTSE 350 company and/or experience of advising finance functions of FTSE 350 companies
• Strong IFRS technical accounting expertise – experienced in interpreting and applying new and existing standards
• Confidence in presenting to senior finance and board members
• Experience in managing qualified and trainee accounting personnel

IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU:

• Senior finance role in a FTSE 350 financial services organisation
• Experience in completing FINREP returns

We are an inclusive organisation and committed to ensuring our recruitment process is as accessible as possible to everyone. We will make adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or would like to discuss the recruitment process with us, please email us at recruit.ssc@closebrothers.com or request a call back.

ABOUT US

For roles offering hybrid working: At Close Brothers we support employees to balance their work life priorities and in this role you will be able to enjoy a mixture of hybrid working.

Close Brothers is a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking, wealth management services and securities trading. At Close Brothers we provide financial support and advice to small businesses and individuals in the UK. Our purpose is to help the people and businesses of Britain thrive over the long term.

To find out more about Close Brothers, please visit our careers page: https://www.closebrothers.com/careers

To find out more about life at Close Brothers:
https://www.closebrothers.com/life-close-brothers#374017299-899295541

To find out more about our benefits:
https://www.closebrothers.com/employee-benefits

To find out more about our commitment to creating an inclusive environment:
Our Responsibility - Diversity and inclusion ¦ Close Brothers Group

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