Finance Controller

About Group Finance

In joining RWS’s Finance team you will be a critical part of supporting a listed world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content, and intellectual property services. RWS has growing revenues of over £750m through a combination of value accretive acquisitions and organic growth. Group finance, led by our Group CFO; Candy Davies, includes diverse teams across the globe operating in functions including business partnering, operational finance, specialist, and group functions. We cover a footprint of over 100 legal entities in 43 different countries worldwide.  

It’s a very exciting time to join RWS Finance for an individual who enjoys change and making an impact! As part of the overall RWS business strategy we are making a significant investment in upgrading our financial systems and processes to deliver enhanced reporting and control, more efficient processing enabling great value through enhanced business partnering and decision support.

Job Purpose

The Financial Controller (FC) will be responsible for appropriate execution of financial controls for the operations of the location(s)/entities in-scope, ensuring accurate reporting, and providing ad hoc analysis. You will work as part of a wider controllership team to ensure timely and accurate delivery of monthly management accounts, local statutory accounts, indirect tax filings and corporate tax filings for the location. This will require an efficient and high-quality service with accountability for process compliance with all relevant external regulation as well as company policies and procedures.

You will report to the Regional Financial Controller and work closely with other Financial Controllers within the team to ensure optimal delivery of service and support continuous process improvements critical to the business strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and perform financial management activities for in-scope location(s)/entities

• Ownership and accountability for the financial accounting and reporting for the location(s)/entities
• Perform and follow up on balance sheet reconciliations
• Manage cashflow, working effectively with Treasury
• Ensure monthly reporting and close processes are accurate, timely and compliant
• Provide insightful analysis of performance within the management accounts
• Manage and coordinate efficient external audits
• Proactively manage changes in the external environment 
• Provide technical assistance to junior members of the wider Controllership team

• Support continuous improvements of financial controllership

• Work with relevant teams to identify opportunities for process optimisation
• Provide feedback and recommendations to Regional or Senior Financial Controller to support continuous improvement of existing financial operations
• Understand emerging technologies that may optimise financial control processes and support the business case for those that deliver value

• Ensure financial controls compliance

• Ensure adherence to all applicable laws, financial regulations, industry standards and tax laws
• Ensure appropriate internal financial controls are applied including approving payroll and balance sheet reconciliations 
• Ensure internal controls are in place to prevent fraud and error
• Ensure financial statements and reports prepared are ethical and transparent
• Ensure external audits are coordinated efficiently

• Collaborate with other teams

• Build and foster relationships with group finance, commercial finance, local directors, and senior business leads
• Collaborate with Master Data team for required data points, best practices and standards and data issues
• Collaborate with Shared Service Centre (SSC) process delivery teams to exchange information, as required, and support process improvement where dependencies may exist
• Collaborate with the tax team and external service providers to ensure that all external reporting and compliance is completed accurately and on time
• Collaborate with other units and stakeholders across the company to ensure alignment and support the achievement of business objectives

Skills & Experience

• 5+ years experience in a finance function operating in a financial controller role
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or other business-related discipline
• Strong English Language skills
• Working knowledge of core finance systems, ERP and related specialty functional systems, frameworks, and functionality
• Strong understanding of finance business processes, accounting policies, and statutory accounting principles to ensure compliant group finance operations
• Strong understanding of corporation tax requirements
• Excellent communication skills with strong ability to interact with company stakeholders to ensure a high quality of service, while balancing expectations and realisations
• Ability to work in a fast-moving environment with a proactive approach, accustomed to working towards tight deadlines whilst maintaining quality of work
• Excellent attention to detail, commitment to accuracy and quality

Beneficial to have:

• • Conversant in other languages besides English
  • Qualified accountant (AAT/CIMA/ACCA/ACA or global equivalent) or qualified by experience

Base Pay

$95,000 - $110,000 / year.

Actual rate of pay may vary based on factors including, but not limited to: position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience. Total compensation may also include variable incentives, bonuses, benefits, and/or other perks, as outlined in any formal offer made. 

At RWS, we’re here for one purpose: unlocking global understanding. 

As a unique, world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content, and intellectual property services, we remove the barriers to communication to make global connection possible. Our unrivalled experience and deep understanding of language have been developed over more than 60 years. As we look to shape the future, our ambition is to create a world where understanding is universal for everyone.

We work with over 80% of the world’s top 100 brands, more than three-quarters of Fortune’s 20 ‘Most Admired Companies’ and almost all the top pharmaceutical companies, investment banks, law firms and patent filers. Our client base spans Europe, Asia Pacific and North and South America. Our 65+ global locations across five continents service clients in the automotive, chemical, financial, legal, medical, pharmaceutical, technology and telecommunications sectors.   

Over the past 20 years we’ve been evolving our own AI solutions as well as helping clients to explore, build and use multilingual AI applications. With 45+ AI-related patents and more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, we have the experience and expertise to support clients on their AI journey.

If you like the idea of working with smart people who are passionate about breaking down language barriers and giving back to their communities, then you’ll love life at RWS. Our work fundamentally recognizes the value of every language and culture. So, we celebrate difference, we are inclusive and believe that diversity makes us strong.

We want every employee to grow as an individual and excel in their career. In return, we expect all our people to live by the values that unite us: to partner with colleagues and clients, to adopt a pioneering spirit, to be positive in progressing the work we do, and always to deliver what we promise. 

RWS Values

Get the 3Ps right – Partner, Pioneer, Progress – and we´ll Deliver together as One RWS.

For further information, please visit: RWS   

RWS embraces DEI and promotes equal opportunity, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. RWS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RWS are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation. RWS will not tolerate discrimination based on any of these characteristics. 

Covid Vaccination - All RWS employees hired for positions that require working on-site at RWS offices, customer offices, travel on behalf of RWS, and/or in-person meetings will be required to comply with the RWS USA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Policy. RWS complies with federal, state, and local laws regarding accommodations related to this policy.

Recruitment Agencies: RWS Holdings PLC does not accept agency resumes.  Please do not forward any unsolicited resumes to any RWS employees.  Any unsolicited resume received will be treated as the property of RWS and Terms & Conditions associated with the use of such resume will be considered null and void.

RWS is an Affirmative Action Employer. For more information about EEO/AAP legislation please visit: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf