Senior Financial Controls Accountant

Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status.

About Us

Our teams are putting the world’s retailers online using the cloud, robotics, AI, and IoT. We provide services to partner clients globally via our innovative advanced robotics technology, known as the Ocado Smart Platform ("OSP"), this drives our highly automated, multi-million pound Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs). In our CFCs - together with the proprietary software applications - we operate a world-class online grocery business that automates the single pick of products, ready for your online delivery.

About the Role

This is a hands-on role and an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional with scope to add value, implement financial controls methodology, policies and procedures reporting to the Senior Financial Controls Manager.

As the Senior Financial Controls Accountant you will be a valued team member and take  ownership for designing and developing the Group’s Financial Controls methodology for specific processes, implementing and monitoring financial controls, documenting risks and controls, training of a wide range of stakeholders, liaising with the Group’s Internal and External Auditors and related deliverables.

You will provide experience and support to other members of the team and effectively support the business during the design and implementation of these controls and effect any change required through roll-out of risk and control matrices across the Group.

If you are an experienced Senior Qualified Accountant able to demonstrate strong risk and controls skills to become the “go to” Financial Controls SME. You will be working in a fast-past, dynamic and commercial environment, with responsibility to ensure Financial Controls methodology is in place and adhered to. 

What you will be doing 

• Take personal ownership for the design, implementation and ongoing monitoring of the Group’s Financial Controls methodology including adherence with the firm’s relevant accounting policies and procedures and  ensuring latest developments are included and best practice considered 
• Support the design and delivery of the financial controls plan to implementing and embedding of the second line within the Finance function
• Anticipate change and inputs into the vision for future development of the Group’s financial control environment
• Acts as a subject matter expert in the application of the Group’s Financial Control methodology
• Collaborate with the wider Financial Controls team and ensure controls in other processes and the systems controls are linked in to ensure the end to end process is addressed
• Input into the financial controls vision and roadmap for the Group including assessing the opportunities to standardise and automate
• Responsible for the testing of key controls and ensuring appropriate recommendations for improvements are implemented to ensure a ‘no surprises’ environment.
• Deliver effective tailored training, guidance and advice to Finance and non-finance teams enhancing visibility of the importance of financial controls in their respective areas to ensure controls are embedded
• Take personal ownership for either the Finance Risk Register, Controls Self Certification, related validation the Financial Controls or the Financial Risks on the Fraud Risk Assessment
• Support drafting papers to committees on Financial Control matters (Risk Committee, Audit Committee, SOC Steering Committee, Transformation Steering Committees etc.)
• Input into the creation of control metrics to monitor the control environment for end to end processes through a Financial Controls Dashboard
• Responsible for preparation of KPI’s tested input into the monthly Financial Controls KPI pack and presenting where required
• Ability to interpret complex issues, distil key points to be addressed and develop effective, practical & simple recommendations to resolve problems
• Drive early involvement of the Financial Controls team in changes to processes to identify weaknesses and design controls required to mitigate risk

About you 

• 3 years Post Qualified Experience (preferably ACA / ACCA or equivalent) - people with experience outside of this are still welcome to apply and will be considered. 
• Demonstrable experience in a similar role and experience of operating at Senior Financial Accountant level in internal audit, second line or other assurance roles
• Experience of designing assurance methodology (e.g. financial controls, internal audit, SoX), including implementing, designing and monitoring financial controls
• Risk and Control Matrices (RACMs)
• Assurance Qualification (CIA/ CMIIA or equivalent)
• Experience of COSO methodology is highly desirable

What we offer you

Our employee benefits are designed for you, we care about people and we’ve ensured we have a wealth of benefits that focus on your well-being. We regularly review our benefits to ensure we are supporting our employees appropriately.

• 30 days ‘working from anywhere in the world’ policy 
• 22 weeks paid primary carer leave
• Wellbeing support through dedicated apps and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase)
• Pension scheme (various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%)
• Generous Private Medical Insurance (within the first month of joining!)
• Income Protection (can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance (3 x annual salary) 
• 22 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete) 
• Train Ticket loan (interest-free)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station to the Hatfield offices 
• Free shuttle bus to and from Welwyn Garden City Train Station to the Welwyn Garden City offices
• Opportunity to participate in Sharesave and Buy as You Earn share schemes
• 15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees (within the first month of joining!