Head of Finance and Risk

Role Purpose

This is an important role and reports into the Finance Director. It is ideally suited for a commercially minded and proactive finance professional. The role requires someone who can exercise initiative, demonstrate independence of thought and behaviour and have the flexibility and competence to deal with a range of different challenges, projects and stakeholders.

This role leads and manages the following teams: Middle office and Product control (6 people); Finance & Accounting (8 people). The overall Finance function is currently 22 people in total and consists of Middle Office, Finance & Accounting, Treasury, Credit and Tax.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the preparation of the P&L, BS and monthly accounts for the business and its subsidiaries to ensure accuracy and completeness and their timely submission to Group.
• Review, streamline and enhance the Risk P&L versus Finance P&L at month end to ensure transparency and consistency.
• Analytical review of monthly P&L to substantiate key drivers to the business and market performance.
• Lead the implementation of new business reporting and integration of accounting systems alongside the accurate consolidation of the results.
• Assist and oversee month end accounting process and submission of relevant reports to head office for all entities.
• Be the technical and subject matter expert for UK GAAP and IFRS and key technical accounting topics such as business combinations for new acquisitions, liquidations and IFRS and UK GAAP differences.
• Review key regulatory submissions such as corporation tax, VAT and Duty.
• Leading external and internal audit through to successful completion.
• Leading the preparation of statutory financial statements through to signing.
• Oversee the preparation of the budgeting and forecasting process.
• Maintaining continuous improvement of financial processes and activities.
• Implement best practices to standardise tasks and processes to increase efficiency
• Delivering enhanced management information whilst working closely with Group Finance to optimise the end-to-end process.
• Business partnering with Group Finance to achieve best practices across the global business.
• Building relationships with all stakeholders
• Support the production of regular monthly management accounting information and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Responsible for all accounting transactions including MTM of inventory, derivatives, FX under IAS39.
• Assist in the implementation of a full front to back interface of systems
• The provision of regular monthly financial and management accounting information to enable the organisation to plan, forecast, manage and report it's financial position.
• Improving and standardizing month end processes to improve efficiency and controls
• Liaise closely with all departments to keep abreast of business developments that could affect the accuracy and reporting of the financials.
• Preparation and consolidation of annual budget and strategy document/presentation
• Responsible for the preparation of financial statements under UK GAAP and IFRS.
• Lead the delivery of projects and process improvements as required
• Managing and developing the team.
• Ensuring all standard finance operating processes, procedures and policies are maintained and up to date.

Middle Office and Product Control

• Serve as a risk and controls subject matter expert/ leader within the business.
• Continuously review the controls of the front office system and end to end to process with the aim to simplify and ensure appropriate segregation of duties.
• The UK lead for key P&L and process transformation projects with the Group.
• Provide business support and oversight on complex trade structures and bookings.
• Assess and be able to challenge the accuracy and aptness of mark to market valuations and the corresponding P&L and positions reported.
• Assist in the designing and implementing of improvement and enhancements to valuation models, risk management and processes.
• Support the integration of new initiatives
• Understanding the key differences to Finance P&L with the aim to revise P&L models to reduce volatility
• Leading improvements to reduce the month end close timeline whilst maintaining quality and integrity of data.
• Automation of the P&L and daily processes
• Improve the trade booking and capture process. liaising with front office and operations to ensure Day 1 P&L is reported accurately.
• Lead the UK Finance and Product control team by setting a high standard and clear expectations.

Skills

• ACA, ACCA qualified with audit experience from the Big Four.
• Experience in the oil and energy sector and commodities, split between Finance and Risk roles.
• Significant hands on experience (> 10 years)
• Commodities Product control and middle office experience
• Full management and control of an end to end finance and accounting system.
• Deep familiarity with Front office risk and controls
• Excellent communicator
• Commercial and analytical mindset
• Ability to work in a fast- paced environment with a pragmatic and agile mindset
• Advanced MS Office and Excel skills.
• Experience of SAP accounting and trading systems preferred
• Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.