Head of Group Accounting, Financial Reporting & Controls

Head of Group Accounting, Financial Reporting and 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.

Your Role

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.

Who are we?

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.

What you'll bring

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 within logistics, transportation, infrastructure or other asset-intensive industries

What we can offer you

In addition to a competitive salary, we have a strong track record of developing our people to expand their skills and experience and develop their careers. Valuing and rewarding our workforce is important to us which is why we offer a fantastic range of flexible benefits to choose from, such as:

• 27 Days Annual Leave (plus bank holidays)
• Up to 10% Matched Contribution Pension
• Peel Ports Flexible Benefits including salary sacrifice car scheme, healthcare cash plans, Cycle2Work Scheme, Critical Illness Insurance, Gym Membership Scheme, Retail Vouchers, plus more
• Commitment to learning and personal development. Last year we supported over 50,000 hours of training and personal development
• We promote good physical and mental health and can provide additional support to colleagues through our Employee Assistance Programme when required

If you believe you have the skills and experience we are seeking and you want to join a thriving and ambitious place to work, we’d really like to hear from you!