Job Description We are currently seeking our Head of Accounting for the UK & Ireland, who will play a pivotal role reporting directly to the Regional Finance Director for Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. The successful candidate will deftly manage everyday financial operations, assure legal compliance, and guide financial reporting for the UK & Ireland regions, while providing leadership to the accounting teams in Leeds, Manchester, and Ireland. This vital role entails steering multiple general accounting teams across the UK & Ireland (Manchester, Leeds & Dublin), ensuring meticulous adherence to both IFRS and local regulatory frameworks. The Head of Accounting Manager will be instrumental in presenting financial data, steering the adoption of the SAP system and finance transformation. The position is immediately available and is UK-based (Manchester). Our ideal candidate will use their strong analytical skills to prepare detailed financial reports, participation in legal entity optimization projects, preparation of various compliance filings including tax returns, statutory consolidation, and contribute to forecasting. To succeed in this position, he/she will need to have an approach based on improving, automating and simplifying processes, solving problems and being able to lead remote and local teams. Ultimately, it will have to be able to guarantee our sound financial management. Key responsibilities Team Management Empower the accounting teams in Leeds and Manchester by providing developmental support, goal-setting, and expert mentorship; Distribute tasks and responsibilities to align with departmental goals, ensuring efficient team operation and objective fulfillment; Conduct evaluations, delivering constructive feedback to nurture team growth and performance. Financial Accounting & Reporting Coordinate, prepare and submit the accounting operations in order to submit IFRS monthly, quarterly, and annual financials, in accordance with the group calendar to IFRS group and local standards for the UK & Ireland entities; Coordinate local and group external auditors for annual audits and statutory accounts preparation and ensure if any audit issues are resolved and communicated; Assist as required by the Controlling department contribute to the in the annual budget process for the UK & Ireland. Compliance and Control Safeguard compliance with IFRS, local financial regulations, VAT, office of national statistics, customs and tax requirements; Implement and maintain internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure financial integrity; Oversee VAT, PAYE, and other tax filings and ensure timely and accurate submissions; Ownership of payroll accounting and interface with HR and payroll provider; Implements internal controls based on group guidelines for entities in his/her scope and follows-up & orchestrates audit & internal control action plans. Taxation Preparation and/or Supervision of VAT Audits and tax declarations, and various other statutory filings; Ensure compliance with the law and taxation within the entities. Systems, Projects and Process Improvement Participate actively in finance function transformation which aims at improve finance expertise, standardize and optimize finance processes; Critically assess and enhance current accounting systems and procedures, championing innovation and best practices; Maximize the potential of existing financial software, and lead the finance team in automation and efficiency advancements; Spearhead systems integration or process optimization projects as required. Change, Transition & Convergence Lead the stabilization of the finance team post-transformation by ensuring clear role definitions, upskilling initiatives, and fostering engagement within the regional and group finance function; Oversee the convergence of financial processes, systems, and reporting frameworks across multiple legal entities (SomfyUK, BFT UK & Ireland), ensuring consistency and efficiency; Collaborate with key stakeholders to align accounting policies and financial reporting structures, ensuring seamless integration within the group finance function; Act as a change leader, driving cultural and operational adaptation to new processes, digital tools, and evolving financial regulations. Key competencies for success Strong leadership & decision-making –Leading the team with clear direction and accountability; Change management –Effective communication, stakeholder alignment, and flexibility to drive and implement change and transition successfully; Process improvement & standardization –Ensuring efficiency, consistency, and optimization in finance processes; People management & team development –Guiding, mentoring, and developing the team in Leeds and Manchester; Convergence & process alignment –Aligning financial processes, systems, and structures across entities (SomfyUK, BFT UK & IR); Problem-solving & risk management –Identifying challenges and proactively mitigating risks in finance transformation (processes & people).