Halfords

JOB PURPOSE

The Group Financial Accounting Manager role is responsible for the Halfords Group internal and external reporting process, technical support to the business. The role has two direct reports.

JOB CONTEXT

Halfords Group plc is a listed retail and services business, with over £1billion turnover.

Halfords is the UK’s leading retailer of motoring, cycling and leisure products, and through Halfords Autocentres, is also one of the UK’s leading independent operators in vehicle servicing, maintenance and repairs. Customers shop at around 400 Halfords stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at Halfords.com. Halfords Autocentres operates from over 370 sites nationally and offers motorists high-quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at affordable prices. Customers can also shop at three Tredz stores and a Giant store in South Wales as well as online at tredz.co.uk and wheelies.co.uk for cycling products and direct home delivery.

The role reports directly to the Head of Group Financial Reporting and Control, who in turn reports to the Group Financial Controller.  The role interacts on a regular basis with the Group CFO, divisional finance directors, Company Secretary/legal counsel and other finance team members in addition to occasional interactions with Halfords Executive level and functional heads.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for managing Financial Reporting across the Group, leading  two direct reports and working closely with divisional counterparts
• Complete the Group consolidation process for Management and Statutory Accounts
• Complete the preparation and analysis of month end Retail business results
• Present the result to the CFO after each period end. Provide analysis and updates on key actions taken and variances to budget and prior years.
• Provide input into the monthly Board report
• Provide technical advice across Halfords departments (where required), ensuring appropriate accounting advice is given for any transactions into Group e.g. acquisitions
• Input into the budgeting process for areas of responsibility. Act as controller of the SAP input processes for budgeting and forecasting.
• Work closely with the tax and treasury team on related matters
• Provide financial input into the Annual and Interim statutory reports
• Management of technical accounting areas to include IFRS 9, 15 and 16
• Accountable to external auditors for areas of responsibility
• Support the Shared Services team in a business partner capacity to assist in financial accounting related queries
• Own the timely and accurate completion of balance sheet recs
• Complete a regular review of the balance sheet GLs to identify areas of risk/ opportunity Challenge provisions, methodology and accounting policies where relevant
• Undertake a technical review of accounting standards and FRC announcements and assess their impact on the Group
• Ensure the finance team are kept up to date on new accounting standards
• Review and revise accounting policies, SOPS and finance manual
• Involvement in the financial reporting reviews of any new Halfords initiatives

WHAT WE SEEK

• Qualified accountant with at least 4 years PQE
• Great attention to detail
• Technically astute and intellectually curious
• Good knowledge of IFRS and new UK GAAP
• Ability to challenge and drive through change
• Collaborative team worker
• Self starter, able to work on own initiative
• Experience of group consolidations
• People Management experience preferable
• Ability to quickly build effective working relationships and internal networks