Element has an opportunity for a new Director of Group Financial Reporting and Control to join our team in London. Our Director will lead the external group reporting requirements for the Element Group and be the owner of group accounting policies, including training for the broader finance function, with the responsibility for the design and operation of key controls over the financial reporting processes, and setting the group's financial reporting timetable. Reporting to the Group Finance Director, the role will lead a team of 4 qualified accountants (all based in London).

Key interfaces for the role include other Group Finance team(Treasury, Tax, Corporate development, FP&A), Regional CFO’s, Regional GBS Directors and Business Unit finance teams.  Other stakeholders are the Executive Management, Board & Audit Committee, Company Secretariat, External and Internal Audit, and regulators.

Role Location: The role will be located in the Group’s Head Office at Covent Garden, London. We operate a flexible and hybrid working environment with 3 days office-based working, 2 days home-working.

External Group Financial Reporting

• Annual group accounts, quarterly financial reporting to lenders, and other institutions and investors
  Lead a monthly management consolidation process of key financial reports at group level
• Coordinates, directs, plans and executes the financial reporting component of the group’s external audit
• Coordinates, directs, plans and executes the delivery of Annual report (including the Consolidated Financial Statements)
• All technical accounting and disclosures, including research and preparation of technical accounting memos and working with third-party consultants, as needed to support conclusions
• Determine the impact of upcoming and potential accounting and regulatory changes and proactively prepare the organization
• Own, develop and revise group accounting policies
• Provide ongoing technical training for the finance organisation, including the Company’s foreign entities, and drive a controls-minded approach to financial reporting
• Lead and develop a financial reporting and controls environment
• Support on key projects and workstreams such as ERP/CPM implementations, M&A/Disposal related accounting integration activities, legal entity rationalisation

Leadership

• Ability to influence and inspire across global teams
• Foster a diverse workplace that enables all participants to contribute to their full potential in pursuit of organisational objectives
• Demonstrate proficiency effectively presenting complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner and facilitating meetings with senior management
• Monitor and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures
• The position requires strong collaborative, communication, and project management skills
• Global awareness and sensitive to multiple cultures

Business Partnership

• Actively partners with the global finance teams to implement financial reporting requirements
• Work across the organisation to proactively identify, prioritise, facilitate, and lead financial reporting continuous improvement initiatives

• Significant proven experience in all aspects of accounting in a service oriented environment
• Strong general ledger, internal and external reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and basic income tax knowledge
• CPA qualification or alternative qualifications may be considered (e.g.: Masters in Business Administration) depending on experience
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, customer testing specifications, and procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine reports and speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organisation
• Strong interpersonal skills and listening ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders
• Ability to encourage and sustain the high performance of employees and provide appropriate developmental opportunities.
• Must have strong IT knowledge (MS Windows, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Knowledge of Hyperion and or Microsoft Dynamics AX is a plus

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 6,500 brilliant minds operating from 200 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.