Viceroy Engineering
Head of Financial Reporting
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Head of Financial Reporting
Chief Corporate and Financial Reporting Officer
Smiths Detection
This will be Smiths Detection’s first Corporate and Financial Reporting expert.
The successful candidate will be the internal financial reporting specialist, with crucial responsibilities in preparing the Detection business for independent financial reporting outside of Smiths Group plc.
Smiths Detection will approach the size of a FTSE 250 listed business, potentially including listed debt. We require someone with an excellent technical understanding of the reporting requirements needed for this transition.
Under private equity (PE) ownership, clear, accurate, and purposeful financial reporting will be required from the outset.
Additionally, we are looking for a financial reporting leader with:
- Strong skills in change management
- Proven ability to design an evolving finance organisation focused on the future
- Experience augmenting existing teams in complex corporate environments
About the Role
The Corporate and Financial Reporting Officer will manage the end-to-end review, reporting, and audit process, beginning with internal processes and policies in preparation for external reporting.
Key responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the entire Group’s financial reporting, with ultimate accountability despite operating within a matrix framework.
- Establishing accurate, efficient, and balanced financial reporting across the Group of companies.
The role is based at Smiths Detection HQ in London, with hybrid working arrangements.
Key Duties
Primary Responsibilities
The main purpose of this role is to:
- Manage external review, reporting, and audit processes
- Drive an efficient close process
- Ensure consistent application of accounting policies across the Group
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Historically, as part of Smiths Group, the Detection business did not prepare its own external reporting. This role now requires strategic planning for the Group’s future corporate reporting processes.
Core Accountabilities
- Set financial reporting timelines, frameworks, and accountability structures (without direct line management responsibility).
- Oversee the Group’s consolidated external reporting and audit processes for historic financial information.
- Lead disclosures preparation for half-yearly and annual results, adhering to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and UK public listed company reporting obligations.
- Develop new corporate reporting processes, optimising existing systems while ensuring full compliance.
- Conduct substantive analysis on critical accounting areas, including:
- Statement of Comprehensive Income (SOCIE)
- Cash flow statements
- Pensions
- Share-based accounting and Earnings Per Share (EPS)
- Financial risk management
- Respond to and advise on technical/commercial accounting queries.
Secondary Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain a Group Accounting Manual, ensuring policies are appropriate, consistent, and aligned with post-separation needs.
- Design and deliver financial reporting training to global finance teams.
- Improve and validate financial processes for both internal transparency and auditor confidence.
- Prepare reports for the Audit Committee and external auditors.
Qualifications & Requirements
Technical Knowledge & Experience
- Chartered Accountancy qualification (ACA or ACCA, or equivalent).
- Minimum 7 years’ ‘post-qualification experience (PQE)’ in an organisation of FTSE 250 or similar scale, with:
- Complex accounting requirements
- Multi-currency reporting
- Consolidation expertise
- Background in Big 4 audit (advantageous but not essential).
- Exceptional analytical skills with a track record of:
- High-quality reporting
- Decision-making under pressure
- Complex root-cause analysis globally
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Skills & Abilities
Key attributes include:
- ** excepcional verbal and written communication** to engage diverse stakeholders across functions and regions.
- Forward-thinking leadership, aligning reporting practices with strategic business objectives.
- Problem-solving flexibility, balancing prioritisation and tight deadlines across geographies.
- Strong collaborative network-building skills, both internally and externally.
- Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced, global environment.
Career Growth & Culture
We empower your professional growth through:
- Comprehensive training initiatives
- Global career progression opportunities
- Flexible work structures
- A supportive, inclusive culture rooted in safety/governance
- Competitive benefits, including:
- Health, wellbeing, and wellness support
- Financial and lifestyle perks
- Professional development incentives
Join Smiths Detection, a world leader in security and defence, where innovation safeguards nations and communities.
Commitment to Diversity & Fairness
Smiths Detection values diverse perspectives and is dedicated to equal opportunity irrespective of gender, age, disability, ethnicity or any other protected characteristic.
⚠ Warning: Any unsolicited payment requests pertaining to this application are fraudulent. Only submit applications through our careers portal.
Note: Responsibilities and perks are designed to align with global Princeton reporting guidelines.
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