Head of Group Accounting, Financial Reporting & Controls

Are you a finance leader with a passion for financial reporting, controls and continuous improvement? Join our Group Finance team in Liverpool as Head of Group Accounting, Financial Reporting & Controls, where you'll help ensure high-quality financial reporting, strengthen controls, and drive innovation and efficiency across the Finance function.

As our Head of Group Accounting, Financial Reporting & Controls, you will lead the delivery of accurate, compliant and timely financial reporting across Peel Ports Group, supporting informed decision-making for internal and external stakeholders.

You'll oversee key accounting, reporting and control activities, including month-end close, statutory reporting, audit coordination, balance sheet governance, VAT compliance and financial controls. Working collaboratively with colleagues across Finance and the wider business, you'll help drive consistency, quality and efficiency while maintaining effective policies, controls and governance frameworks.

You'll also play an important role in identifying opportunities to simplify, standardise and automate processes through technology and data-led insights, helping to enhance productivity while maintaining high standards of compliance and reporting integrity.

As a people leader, you'll support and develop a team of finance professionals, creating an inclusive environment where colleagues can collaborate, grow and contribute to continuous improvement.

Already one of the UK’s leading port and logistics companies, we are planning substantial capital investment over the next 5 years to achieve our vision of becoming the UK’s leading port operator. We have ambitious plans to grow and transform the supply chain to benefit our customers. Our investments are decarbonizing our operations, which in turn is helping us work towards our goal of having Net Zero Port Operations by 2040.

Much of our success depends on our unrivalled facilities and technology. But in our sector, it comes down to having the right talent to enable our organisation to grow.

You will be a qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA) with significant experience in financial accounting, reporting and controls within a complex organisation.

In addition, you will have:

• Strong technical accounting knowledge and experience leading accounting operations
• Proven experience managing period-end close, statutory reporting, external reporting, controls and audit activities
• Experience developing and maintaining effective financial controls and governance frameworks
• A strong understanding of financial reporting processes and the ability to improve financial data quality, consistency and integrity
• Experience managing and developing high-performing finance teams
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and build effective relationships across all levels of an organisation
• Excellent communication skills with experience presenting complex financial matters to senior stakeholders
• Good understanding of SAP and its application within finance and accounting environments
• A continuous improvement mindset with a track record of enhancing finance processes and controls

It would also be advantageous if you have:

• Experience implementing automation, AI or digital transformation initiatives within Finance
• Knowledge of leading practice accounting and reporting performance measures
• Experience of finance transformation or process standardisation programmes
• Experience with in logistics, transportation, infrastructure or other asset-intensive industries

In addition to a competitive salary, we have a strong track record of developing our people to expand their skills…