Head of Financial Shared Services

This role is to manage Smiths Detections Finance Shared Services Centre (SSC) improve customer satisfaction ensure robust service delivery and identify and implement process improvements. The individual will be a strong people leader and maintain the relationships with regional entity and divisional finance stakeholders as well as with crossdivisional and group team members.

The role will take on responsibility for the Accounts Payable team directly managing the Accounts Payable Team Leader and working with with all team members as required. This team provides agreed services for a number of the Smiths Detection sites. Working with the divisional HQ team and local finance teams this role will review the appropriateness of and achievement of KPIs and targets to ensure that these encourage the right priorities for the team and that customer satisfaction and quality of delivery are elevated.

There are also Accounting Reporting and Controls (ARC) analysts reporting into a number teams globally who are colocated at the Pune site. This role will support the development of these Finance team members so that the Division can continue to support the assignment of these individuals to work with the local teams. This will include arranging training learning and development and acting as a dotted line manager for the individuals for aspects of work which are best dealt with onsite. This role will initiate and manage recruitment where necessary to maintain an appropriate level of capabilities and resourcing within the team. This role will also ensure that individuals can support other teams in the case of the absence of primary team members and to allow team members to swap roles if appropriate to broaden the experience of team members.

This role will be key to building a reputation for high quality delivery and success by Finance Shared Services supporting career paths of team members and improving structures and processes to make the SSC a function that businesses are keen to work with and that individuals wish to join and stay in and to develop their careers at Smiths Detection.

Ensure service delivery and stakeholder alignment:

• Maintain regular contact with local and divisional finance teams to ensure alignment on performance and to identify improvements
• Review KPIs and monitor other measures of performance such as feedback to assess service delivery and customer experience
• Actively maintain regular forums with division entity and regional controllers
• Ensure the team remains strategically aligned to the divisional and group objectives
• Build relationships with Group and crossdivisional teams including John Crane to help identify where common solutions or knowledge sharing could help Detection and other Smiths divisions
• Quickly solving problems which other team members are not able to and building capability within the team to resolve issues directly
• Strong communication and understanding with local and regional finance teams to allow concerns to be escalated to this role and then time required from the local teams to be significantly reduced with solutions overseen within the Shared Services Centre. This should freeup time in local and regional finance teams to allow them to focus on business partnering.
• Where there are changes in priorities objectives or strategic direction identify and implement the changes required in the team to meet revised needs

Team management:

• All aspects of people management including career development learning and development reward recruitment and retention working with HR as appropriate
• Supporting AP Team Leader in management of Accounts Payable team
• Lead and motivate the team to deliver the most for the business and to develop professionally

Operating effectiveness process improvement and quality assurance:

• Review and revise operating policies and procedures for the team to ensure effective operation ongoing compliance with divisional and group policies and control frameworks as well as the requirements of local teams
• Translate wider objectives for the business into activities for the team to perform
• Maintain and develop the internal control environment and quality assurance processes within the team
• Identify common causes or solutions where issues are identified and implement solutions such as training and process change to improve effectiveness and experience of team members and improve the quality and volume of delivery
• Oversight of larger process changes and projects such as implementation of new systems to improve automation in procure to pay processes

Qualifications :

• Professional Financial Qualification MBA (Finance) or recognized post graduate accounting qualification
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Finance for an international group including substantial experience of managing procuretopay and recordtoreport activities.
• Ability to make decisions about processes in full knowledge of the impact on people processes and controls.
• Project management skills
• Strong financial control and risk management mindset
• Comfortable leading discussions at all levels of the organization from junior to senior exec level
• Knowledge of SAP preferred
• Ability to think clearly be organized and enable a team to execute effectively
• Experience of managing conflicting priorities and ability to decide and clearly communicate how to proceed in the face of uncertainty
• Team leadership skills including enabling managers to lead their parts of the team and identify and deliver on key priorities
• Assignments are defined in terms of activities and objectives. Work is reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.
• Processes assigned to the shared services centre include critical payments and accounting activities. Ensuring these are carried out accurately and on time safeguards the companys resources and ensures that key financial information is available for decision making on a timely basis

Additional Information :

Join us and well help build your career with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business both locally and globally. Youll experience an inclusive environment with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. Youll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a worldleader with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race colour religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin economic status disability age or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics where we celebrate support and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation including but not limited to interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our careers website (Careers Smiths Group plc)