Head of Accounting UK

Company Description

SOMFY, your reliable partner for automated access and closure systems for homes and commercial buildings, is committed to developing new ways of living for everyone.

Our group—a French family-owned company in continuous development since its founding—has been the market leader in home automation for 50 years and a pioneer in smart home technology. We are driven daily by innovation and the assurance of the excellent quality of our solutions.

We operate in 58 countries, with 8 production sites and 17 R&D centers. We are deeply committed to the well-being of our 7,000 employees and strive for their long-term employability through internal mobility and the development of their professional skills. We promote diversity and inclusion, building on our strong corporate culture.

Job Description

We are currently seeking our Head of Accounting for the UK & Ireland, who will play a pivotal role reporting directly to the Regional Finance Director for Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. The successful candidate will deftly manage everyday financial operations, assure legal compliance, and guide financial reporting for the UK & Ireland regions, while providing leadership to the accounting teams in Leeds, Manchester, and Ireland.

This vital role entails steering multiple general accounting teams across the UK & Ireland (Manchester, Leeds & Dublin), ensuring meticulous adherence to both IFRS and local regulatory frameworks. The Head of Accounting Manager will be instrumental in presenting financial data, steering the adoption of the SAP system and finance transformation. The position is immediately available and is UK-based (Manchester).

Our ideal candidate will use their strong analytical skills to prepare detailed financial reports, participate in legal entity optimization projects, prepare various compliance filings including tax returns, statutory consolidation, and contribute to forecasting. To succeed in this position, he/she will need to have an approach based on improving, automating and simplifying processes, solving problems and being able to lead remote and local teams. Ultimately, it will have to be able to guarantee our sound financial management.

Key responsibilities
Team Management

• Empower the accounting teams in Leeds and Manchester by providing developmental support, goal-setting, and expert mentorship;
• Distribute tasks and responsibilities to align with departmental goals, ensuring efficient team operation and objective fulfillment;
• Conduct evaluations, delivering constructive feedback to nurture team growth and performance.

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Coordinate, prepare and submit the accounting operations in order to submit IFRS monthly, quarterly, and annual financials, in accordance with the group calendar to IFRS group and local standards for the UK & Ireland entities;
• Coordinate local and group external auditors for annual audits and statutory accounts preparation and ensure any audit issues are resolved and communicated;
• Assist as required by the Controlling department in the annual budget process for the UK & Ireland.

Compliance and Control

• Safeguard compliance with IFRS, local financial regulations, VAT, office of national statistics, customs and tax requirements;
• Implement and maintain internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure financial integrity;
• Oversee VAT, PAYE, and other tax filings and ensure timely and accurate submissions;
• Ownership of payroll accounting and interface with HR and payroll provider;
• Implement internal controls based on group guidelines for entities in his/her scope and follow-up & orchestrate audit & internal control action plans.

Taxation

• Preparation and/or Supervision of VAT Audits and tax declarations, and various other statutory filings;
• Ensure compliance with the law and taxation within the entities.

Systems, Projects and Process Improvement

• Participate actively in finance function transformation which aims at improving finance expertise, standardizing and optimizing finance processes;
• Critically assess and enhance current accounting systems and procedures, championing innovation and best practices;
• Maximize the potential of existing financial software, and lead the finance team in automation and efficiency advancements;
• Spearhead systems integration or process optimization projects as required.

Change, Transition & Convergence

• Lead the stabilization of the finance team post-transformation by ensuring clear role definitions, upskilling initiatives, and fostering engagement within the regional and group finance function;
• Oversee the convergence of financial processes, systems, and reporting frameworks across multiple legal entities (Somfy UK, BFT UK & Ireland), ensuring consistency and efficiency;
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to align accounting policies and financial reporting structures, ensuring seamless integration within the group finance function;
• Act as a change leader, driving cultural and operational adaptation to new processes, digital tools, and evolving financial regulations.

Key competencies for success

• Strong leadership & decision-making - Leading the team with clear direction and accountability;
• Change management - Effective communication, stakeholder alignment, and flexibility to drive and implement change and transition successfully;
• Process improvement & standardization - Ensuring efficiency, consistency, and optimization in finance processes;
• People management & team development - Guiding, mentoring, and developing the team in Leeds and Manchester;
• Convergence & process alignment - Aligning financial processes, systems, and structures across entities (Somfy UK, BFT UK & Ireland);
• Problem-solving & risk management - Identifying challenges and proactively mitigating risks in finance transformation (processes & people).

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10-15 years of experience in finance, including 7-10 years in a sales-focused industrial finance position and at least 5 years in a leadership role;
• SAP S4HANA is a must;
• HFM/Hyperion knowledge would be a strong asset;
• ACA/ACCA Qualified accountant with strong background in IFRS experience;
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills;
• Business fluent in English;
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly between various locations in the UK (Leeds and Manchester) and Ireland (Dublin);
• Strong attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining accuracy and integrity of financial information.

Additional Information

• Competitive compensation plus year-end bonus based on performance;
• A dynamic and innovative international culture;
• Embrace the opportunity to shape the future of finance within Somfy, driving excellence and strategic endeavors in an environment committed to growth and innovation;
• Lead a key financial role with strategic impact - Take ownership of regional finance operations, shaping financial strategy and ensuring alignment with the organization's broader objectives;
• Be part of a dynamic transformation journey - Drive finance process improvements, SAP integration and the convergence of financial structures across multiple entities in the UK & Ireland;
• Growth prospects within a global company;
• Somfy is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce.

The protection of our candidates' personal data is a commitment of Somfy Group. We therefore ask any candidate to submit their application to us exclusively via our secure system, and not by email or postal.

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