At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver smarter engineering solutions for mission-critical applications, solving some of the world's toughest problems for our customers, our communities and our world.
We are a FTSE100, global business of around 15,000 colleagues, based in 50 countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity, and supporting new homes.
Our products and services are often critical to our customers’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with an almost 170-year history of innovation, and four global divisions, all experts in their field.
Job Description
Strengthening the Smiths Group internal control environment is a priority for management and the Board. The Group Internal Control team was established to address key finance control priorities and is driving a group-wide internal controls transformation and enhancement programme to support the business meet requirements in readiness for UK Corporate Reform.
This newly created UK or India based role within the Internal Controls function is focused on leading and executing a strategic priority workstream aimed at strengthening R2R process controls, particularly focused on month-end and bank and balance sheet controls across Smiths Group. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery to drive tangible improvements in this high-risk area.
This role will take a leadership role to direct the appropriate way forward to step-change the remediation progress within the R2R process across the Group and will play a pivotal role partnering closely with the divisions and local sites to execute the agreed way forward.
This role will be based out of our Central Birmingham office, 4 days per week.
Responsibility:
* Lead the development of a strategic roadmap for significantly improving the internal controls within the R2R process area, particularly focused on bank and balance sheet controls across the Group within existing constraints.
* Execute and deliver process improvement initiatives in partnership with local business units prioritizing improvements which effectively support the internal control environment.
* Identify control gaps and remediation opportunities in bank and balance sheet processes.
* Develop and deploy templates, tools, and guidance to support consistent control practices.
* Provide hands-on support to local sites facing challenges in control implementation.
* Develop a strategic and operational process improvement plan for the divisions aligned to Group priorities to support improvements in local and divisional R2R internal control activities.
* Promote awareness and capability uplift in financial controls through developing a training and engagement programme.
* Monitor progress and report on key metrics related to control effectiveness and remediation.
* Contribute to the Group’s thought leadership in internal controls and process excellence.
* Support alignment with UK Corporate Governance requirements and internal control frameworks.
* You should note that your title and job description are not exhaustive, and the Company may require you from time to time to undertake other reasonable tasks within your capacity.
Technical Knowledge and Skills:
* ACA/ACCA qualified or equivalent with significant post-qualification experience.
* Proven experience in internal controls, process improvement, and control remediation.
* Strong understanding of bank and balance sheet processes and associated risks.
* Ability to lead strategic initiatives and deliver hands-on support to operational teams.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement and business partnering skills
* Experience in developing templates, tools, and training materials for control improvement
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive mindset.
* Experience in a FTSE100 or multinational environment preferred.
Experience:
* Extensive knowledge of finance operations, and supporting process and control improvement initiatives within a complex global organisation
* Designing and implementing internal controls within the record to report process area.
* Practical experience of translating theoretical requirements or policy requirements into real-world compliant operational processes
* Process improvement / standardization experience
* Exposure to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), IFRS, and Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX 404) is preferred.
Desirable:
* Knowledge of financial systems, including ERP applications (e.g. SAP, Oracle, QAD, Glovia, Syteline, Epicor)
* External / Internal Audit experience
Additional Information
With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity.
Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network.
Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future.