Group financial reporting manager

Group Financial Reporting Manager Watford, Hertfordshire 15 Month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover) Circa GBP90,000 + Bonus Starting - May 2024 / Early June 24 We are seeking a Practice Trained technically strong ACA Qualified Accountant ideally from an Audit Background to join this market leading high growth business. The role will be covering a maternity leave for approx. 15 Months. We are looking for someone to start around May / June 2024 to enable a smooth 2 Month handover. * Lead Financial Reporting for the Group * Overall responsibility for the Group statutory accounts process (including liaising with external auditors), taxation (including VAT), treasury management (including Group cash flow forecasting and bank covenant reporting) and fixed assets management (including development projects). * Manage a team of three, providing support and direction to the team. * Drive improvements across the financial reporting processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. * Ensure that the financial information at a sub-ledger level is recorded and reported accurately and reconciliations performed on time. * Build strong and trusting relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. * Lead Financial Reporting function, providing coaching, support and challenge to enable development of three direct reports. * Ensure statutory audits are completed within 5 months of the year end, and all corporate tax (with assistance from advisors) and VAT compliance completed in a timely and accurate manner. Review and support in preparation of the year-end and audit processes. * Oversight of an accurate 12 month rolling cash flow forecast produced on a weekly basis. * Review (and support in preparation where needed) accurate and timely reporting of management information to our external banks, along with bank covenant reporting. * Oversight of the internal Capex process and project spend for the various developments across the Group. * Strong and trusting relationships established with all key stakeholders, including the wider finance team, internal Heads of Department, HMRC, external auditors and tax advisors. * Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, effectively present ideas and turn them into practical actions. * Lead initiatives on continuous improvement of Financial Reporting and support wider group goals and initiatives. * Responsibility for balance sheet control ensuring 100% compliance of balance sheet reconciliations on a monthly basis. * Monitor and maintain compliance of internal controls. What we are looking for: * Must have previous experience of a similar role. * Strong technical accounting skills. * Must be qualified ACA. * Must have previous experience of managing the Audit process * External advisors over see the Tax side but must have VAT experience. * Keen eye for detail with strong organisational and time-management skills. * Previous experience of successfully managing and leading a team. * Excellent communicator, building meaningful relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders. * Team player with an ability to contribute to wider group goals. * Proactive self-starter with a positive approach to problem solving. Vitae Financial Recruitment Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy