Head of Financial Control - Management Accounting 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

• Lead the team within Financial Control, principally through two direct reports, acting as a role model who coaches and mentors to build capability, delegates effectively, holds the team to a high standard of delivery and keeps development and succession front of mind

• Act as a thought leader within the team, bringing structure and clarity to complex or ambiguous problems and documenting conclusions so they can be applied consistently across the function

• Lead cross-functional projects from beginning to end, working with teams including Legal, Commercial, Product and Technology, setting and holding a timeline and navigating senior stakeholder relationships to land a single, well-documented position

• Hold accountability for the smooth, timely running of month end, including balance sheet integrity, key reconciliations and working capital analysis, with the team owning execution and you providing judgement and sign off, critically reviewing management accounts output for risks, inconsistencies and control gaps and ensuring a consistently high-quality, on-time, audit-ready close

• Act as the subject matter expert for external reporting and controls, providing technical challenge on Annual Report and Half-Year Report verification activity, owning accounting policy judgements and their documentation, and liaising with external auditors on balance sheet and reporting matters as needed

• Be accountable for a strong internal control environment, and drive continuous improvement and automation to reduce manual effort and improve the quality of outputs

• Hold the team accountable for effective Order-to-Cash processes across the group, maintaining strong control and discipline, while proactively identifying emerging risks or areas of complexity

• Own the cost budgeting process in partnership with FP&A, ensuring cost centre owners work to a clear timetable, challenge assumptions and are well prepared to present to the CFO, and build a team that acts as trusted finance partners across the business, providing insight and challenge that shapes commercial decisions, stepping in personally for the most complex or senior conversations

• Maintain strong awareness of corporate governance as a listed business, provide senior oversight of working capital performance including Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, and deputise for the Group Financial Controller as required, including representing Financial Control at key forums

• Qualified accountant status (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience running month end, balance sheet, reconciliation and working capital processes in a complex business

• Experience managing and developing senior finance managers or teams, including setting direction and managing performance through others, with a track record of holding teams to high standards

• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and listed-company governance, and confidence making accounting policy judgements

• A strong track record of business partnering with senior, non-finance stakeholders to shape commercial decisions

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust quickly, manage upwards, delegate effectively and run a project from beginning to end

• A collaborative leadership style that empowers teams to own delivery, while you stay accountable for standards and outcomes

• Experience of ERP platforms or finance automation tools

• Experience in a listed or multi-currency business would be an advantage, though not essential

Enjoy fantastic perks like private healthcare & dental insurance, a generous work from abroad policy, 2-for-1 share purchase plans, an EV Scheme to further reduce carbon emissions, extra festive time off, and excellent family-friendly benefits. We prioritise career growth with clear career paths, transparent pay bands, personal learning budgets, and regular learning days. Jump on board and supercharge your career from day one! We're operating a hybrid model and ask that Trainliners work from the office a minimum of 60% of their time over a 12-week period. We also have a 28-day Work from Abroad policy. Our values represent the things that matter most to us and what we live and breathe everyday, in everything we do:

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• We're building the future of rail

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• We focus on every customer, partner and journey

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• We're one team

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• We make a positive impact

We know that having a diverse team makes us better and helps us succeed. And we mean all forms of diversity - gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, nationality and diversity of thought. That's why we're committed to creating inclusive places to work, where everyone belongs and differences are valued and celebrated. Interested in finding out more about what it's like to work at Trainline? Why not check us out on LinkedIn , Instagram and Glassdoor !