Interim Accounting Director

Interim Accounting Director

Location: Hybrid - Worthing

Time Type: Full time

Management Level: C

Job Requisition : R17914

Reporting: Reports to the Group Financial Controller

We need a skilled Accountant to lead the incremental accounting activities arising from a pending acquisition, working closely with an established and experienced accounting team. This individual should be flexible and used to dealing with ambiguity and can self-start and manage complex situations.

The role will report to the Group Financial Controller and work alongside our Group Director of Accounting and North America Controller and respective teams; there will also be close liaison with the acquisition leadership. This role will also liaise with respective auditors and audit committees.

• The overarching responsibility is to lead the incremental work arising from the acquisition of the Equiniti Group by Bullish, working with the Director of Accounting and North America Controller. We see this as being:
• Delivery of uplifted, audited AICPA financial statements for FY24 and FY25 and an unaudited, but reviewed, set of interim Q3 year to date FY26 financial statements to support the Registration Statement needed to satisfy Siris' sale interest in EQ via equity in the enlarged Bullish group as a foreign filer on the NYSE. The periods the statements cover may change depending on when financial close occurs, which is a function of when regulatory approval for the transaction is granted.
• Delivery of proforma adjustments as needed to support the Registration Statement.
• Lead the audit relationship to ensure all queries are resolved, whether technical, judgmental or data related.
• Work with our auditors as required to satisfy any queries they may have with the components of the Registration Statement to support filing with the SEC. Work with advisers to deliver the purchase price accounting for the transaction.
• Support the establishment of the Oracle Financial Consolidation System such that EQ's trial balance can be mapped in to provide a system of record that provides a Sox-ready consolidation and FX translation tool.
• Lead EQ's contribution to the consolidated audit, working with auditors for the stub period post a 1 November close (if all regulatory approvals received to permit the wider transaction in time).
• Support and potentially lead the new UK consolidated audit for the Earth Private Holdings Group in 2026. This will be a function of the timing of the transaction close and scheduling resource for what may be competing priorities.
• Support ongoing quarterly SEC reporting, providing unaudited financial statement data for their consolidated return.
• Work closely with the Group Director of Accounting and the North America Controller on the delivery of the above to put a comprehensive plan in place.

A well-rounded, experienced finance professional who can operate independently and deal with the dichotomy of Private Equity owners, NYSE listed businesses, IFRS Accounting Policy and adviser / audit interests. Role calls for a consummate problem solver who can handle ambiguous problems with the following skills:

• Ability to design and apply accounting policy frameworks, experienced gathered in a mix of Private Equity and listed environments.
• Action focused. Just observing the issue is no good. This role needs to be able to plan, act and drive outcomes that move the margin and overall financial performance of the group.
• Thinking ahead. The candidate needs to be working through what current trends and actions mean and therefore what changes are needed to strategy and plans to ensure that EQ delivers on its agreed financial goals.
• Mature ability to see ahead, assess all demands and then plan and prioritise.
• Natural promoter of our values.
• Collaborate and support our team dynamics, complement others' weak spots, see support for same in oneself.

• A qualified accountant (ACA or equivalent) earned in both a Private Equity and listed company environment.
• Demonstrable fluency in dealing with complex audit points and seeing the art of the possible. Proven track record in dealing with Audit Committees and Management Teams: show the right balance of leadership, guiding, mediating and assertiveness as is required in any given situation.
• Experience in leading technical accounting teams across geographies.
• Experience in leading change activities: acquisitions, disposals, systems implementations, and…