Controllership Manager - Group Finance

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. 

This role, reporting into the Head of Controllership, is a key role in the controllership team. You will work closely with the India and UK team as well as across the business, giving this role a wider range of stakeholders. You will build relationships internally with finance teams to help ensure we have the right rigour around our reporting and the right inputs for our consolidation, all while ensuring we are performing compliantly. 

In the role you would be expected to:

Reporting

• Provide accounting and support on consolidated accounts production working closely with our team in India
• Prepare monthly statutory cashflow statements and analysis to support working capital management decisions and analysis
• Perform balance sheet analysis and reconciliation for group accounting areas
• Manage the balance sheet review process, providing challenge and follow up and identify areas of risk and opportunity as well as ensure strong controls in place
• Assess technical accounting standards and requirements periodically
• Ensure statutory accounts are produced and filed in a timely manner and adhere to the required IFRS or local GAAP standards
• Implement and maintain accounting controls ensuring we strengthen our framework and are using best practice processes
• Manage intercompany accounting ensuring invoicing and payments flows are followed and simplifying our balance structure
• Support on shared services accounting, maintaining balances, accruals and prepayments
• Prepare month end packs for leadership team to understand results of business
• Drive improvement and efficiency in the above processes

Working Capital Management

• Review short term cashflow needs and improve processes linked to liquidity decisions and work with treasurer to support on process improvements
• Perform FX analysis, reporting on exposures and opportunities
• Streamline treasury and banking syndicate reporting
• Driving improvement and efficiency in the above processes

Compliance and audit

• Support wider team on audit process working with the business and auditors
• Improve compliance framework and documentation in your role and connected areas
• Support the business with compliance needs as required

Projects and ad-hoc

• Process improvement and efficiency will be an ongoing deliverable and metric of this role
• Own projects in the above area to derisk and simplify processes
• Support the India and UK leadership on other key projects and areas as needed

To succeed in this role you must have

• Accounting qualification (CIMA/ACA/ACCA) with post qualified industry experience
• Solid reporting skills within a robust framework with a passion for improvement and a keen eye for what good looks like
• A great communicator with a technical mindset but can communicate the message simply to a range of audiences
• A keen eye for detail, with a questioning mindset who can get out ahead of audit questions, shore up processes and deliver the story of period end
• A structured approach to workload, who can tackle multiple streams of work and improvements in a sensible and timely way and distribute the work sensibly around the team to drive proactive management of this area
• Someone who is happy to get hands-on with tools and the systems to understand how we can make our processes simpler, compliance integrated and reporting easier
• An ability to use wider systems and tools such as AI and reporting tools to improve processes and workloads

#LI-Hybrid 

Working Arrangements

The majority of our roles operate on a hybrid working pattern, with 3+ days office attendance required. 

AI usage for your application

We are an innovative organisation that encourages the use of technology. We recognise that candidates may utilise AI tools to support with their job application process. However, it is essential that all information you provide truthfully and accurately reflects your own experience, skills, and qualifications.

What we offer

Our benefits package is designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance. It includes a highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan, private health insurance, and 24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Program.

We also offer a range of lifestyle benefits, including our Work From Anywhere program, which allows you to work from any location where you have the legal right to do so for up to 25 days per year. In addition, we provide generous annual and parental leave, as well as dedicated days off for volunteering and even for moving home.

You will also be given free access to all The Economist content, including an online subscription, our range of apps, podcasts and more.