Overview
We are open to this role being based at either HQ Hemel Hempstead or London Blackfriars.
The individual will be part of the Business Solution team for the Division in particular the process owner and SME for the Divisions consolidation system (Onyx). They will ensure the process is suitable and continuously look for ways to improve and make it more efficient for monthly submission and consolidation. They will be the functional lead to steer and support to our local teams during submission (and other times) when required.
The individual works closely with the Head of Business Solutions, the Divisional Financial Controller, the global finance team and IT support teams.
Responsibilities
* Process Ownership and Governance: Define the financial reporting consolidation mechanism and ensure the process delivers global value to internal customers.
* Business Engagement: Engage key stakeholders who are responsible for and customers of the process today to understand pain points and areas for improvement.
* Documentation and Standards: Create and maintain process documentation, policies, controls and desktop procedures.
* Governance: Put in place the right measures, metrics and review forums to manage ongoing performance; create processes and controls to manage change requests; manage and resolve divergences to standard process.
* Design and Improvements: Identify source systems for manual data enhancements and improve mapping to eliminate the need for manual intervention in monthly and half yearly reporting including supplementary analysis.
* Design and manage functional dimensions and maximise opportunity for appropriate granularity that is fully utilised and consistent across entities to harmonise reporting and all new accounts are properly populated (e.g. split of other payables/receivables bonus analysis full suite of KPIs) with any further enhancements or developments identified.
* Designing and implementing the strategic plan process into Onyx to improve quality of longer-term business plans and enabling scenario and what-if sensitivities.
* Continuously identify and implement improvement opportunities to enhance Onyx and make process more efficient and easier for our entities (e.g. speeding up consolidation time rebuilding forms to make more user friendly).
* Evaluation of all changes including verification that there is no undesirable financial impact on the reporting and the financial integrity of the consolidation system remains intact.
* Ensuring budgeting, forecasting and actual reporting is embedded across all entities (using full benefit of approval and version control within Onyx) and ensuring maximum use of functionality available where applicable including trend and driver-based planning target setting and what-if analysis.
* Review current reporting of KPIs in Onyx and analyse performed with a view to identifying improvements and updating based on definition changes.
* Over month end close: Provide functional support to all entities across the Division over the month end period; support and resolve validation issues during the submission process meaning entities submit monthly results in a timely manner.
* Outside of month end close: Be the SME for all Onyx issues and provide functional support to all entities across the Division; answer questions on mapping updates and analysis of data issues; validate BAU requests to ensure they align with strategic plan for Onyx reporting; ensure that BAU changes are requested in full format and set up properly; ensuring testing is adequately performed after any change to Onyx; manage improvements and changes to Onyx so that their implementation is successful and they don’t cause undesirable impacts elsewhere; provide support for other ad‑hoc requests and projects as identified.
Qualifications
Education
* Qualified Accountant with a Professional Financial Qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent).
* Educated to degree level or equivalent.
Experience
* Strong group consolidation experience deep systems expertise (ideally Onyx or similar) and the technical and analytical mindset to own and continuously improve the divisional financial reporting system.
* Expert in financial reporting and consolidation systems, experienced in managing the consolidation of multiple entities (Oracle, Hyperion EPM highly desirable).
* Strong financial understanding including accounting requirements and comfortable navigating between primary statements backup schedules and double entries; experience explaining direct and indirect transaction flows.
* Experience designing and implementing process change.
Knowledge / Skills / Other attributes
* Excellent communication skills and conversing fluently in English both written and verbally and ability to explain complex issues to stakeholders.
* The ability and motivation to solve unique and complex problems.
* Logical and critical thinking skills to appraise solutions and ensure they are fit for purpose.
* Ability to think clearly, be organized and execute effectively.
* Systems accountant mindset and ability to understand how a system is designed and structured so that data is picked up reported correctly.
* Confidence in challenging senior partners and holding partners accountable for action plan delivery.
* Influencing and leadership skills grounded in experience of building, developing and sustaining relationships with key partners at all levels.
* Structured and logical problem solver; ability to communicate effectively at all levels written and verbal.
* Self‑starter with high energy level intellectual curiosity and strong work ethic, committed to continuous improvement in a dynamic changing environment.
* Team player with ambition and self‑motivation, able to engage challenge and work effectively with others and coach people in a matrix organisation.
Planning and Decision Making
* Identifying and leading improvement designs to implementation.
* Ensuring proposed changes to system are fit for purpose.
* Strong organisational skills able to cope with different tasks and deadlines at the same time.
* Responsibility for planning own work within given priorities and procedures and meeting deadlines.
* Communicate with a wide range of stakeholders with varying seniority.
Impact and Scope
* Driving the success of the consolidation system used within the Division.
* Key in achieving continuous improvement and process efficiencies.
Additional Information
To find out more about life at Smiths Detection check out our LinkedIn and follow our story.
Join us for a great career and competitive compensation & benefits whilst keeping the world a safer place.
Diversity & Inclusion
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age or any other legally protected characteristics.
Remote Work
No
Employment Type
Full‑time
Key Skills
Financial Services, Financial Models, Account Management, General Ledger Accounts, ERP, Payroll, External Auditors, Customer Relationships, Credit Card, Financial Statements, Business Units, Annual Budget, Income, New Clients, Financial Management
Department / Functional Area
Finance
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