Group Financial Controller - Newcastle West, Limerick

JOB DESCRIPTION

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and commercially focused Group Financial Controller to join the Finance Leadership Team at Sysco Ireland.

Reporting directly to the CFO, the Group Financial Controller will provide strategic leadership across financial control, financial reporting, compliance, governance, taxation, audit, shared services oversight, and finance transformation. This role will ensure the integrity of financial reporting across the organisation while maintaining a robust control environment that supports sustainable business growth.

As a key member of the finance leadership team, the successful candidate will lead a high-performing finance organisation, develop future finance talent and partner closely with operational and commercial stakeholders to support business performance and strategic decision-making.

This role is being recruited during a significant period of change, with the ongoing implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the continued evolution of the finance operating model. The successful candidate will play a critical leadership role in driving transformation, embedding best practice processes and building a future-ready finance function.

The role requires a candidate who is:

• A proven Leader
• Commercially driven
• Experienced in Finance Transformation

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control & Governance

• Lead the overall financial control framework across all island of Ireland entities.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity and completeness of financial records and reporting.
• Oversee month-end, quarter-end and year-end close processes, ensuring timely and accurate delivery.
• Maintain a best-in-class balance sheet control environment.
• Ensure robust financial policies, procedures and governance frameworks are in place and consistently applied.
• Drive continuous enhancement of internal controls, risk management and financial stewardship.
• Ensure compliance with all Group accounting policies and reporting requirements.

Financial Reporting

• Lead the preparation and delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting to Group.
• Ensure all group reporting deadlines and submissions are achieved accurately and on time.
• Provide insightful financial analysis to support executive decision-making.
• Oversee statutory accounts preparation and filing requirements across relevant entities.
• Monitor changes in accounting standards and ensure compliance across the business.

Compliance, Audit & Tax

• Oversee the group relationships with external auditors, internal auditors and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure successful completion of all internal and external audit programmes.
• Lead the organisation's SOX compliance programme and maintain an effective controls environment.
• Ensure all tax, VAT and regulatory obligations are fulfilled accurately and on time.
• Manage remediation plans arising from audit findings and compliance reviews.
• Proactively identify and mitigate financial and regulatory risks.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, develop and inspire a large finance team across multiple disciplines.
• Directly manage senior finance leaders across key finance functions.
• Build organisational capability through coaching, mentoring and succession planning.
• Champion the Finance Graduate Programme and support the development of future finance talent.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Act as a role model for the organisation's values and leadership behaviours.

Business Partnering

• Partner closely with the CFO, Executive Team and senior business leaders.
• Provide commercial insight and challenge to support strategic business decisions.
• Support business growth initiatives, acquisitions, integrations and investment decisions as required.
• Ensure finance is viewed as a trusted business partner across the organisation.
• Drive financial awareness and accountability throughout the business.

Finance Transformation & Systems

• Play a leadership role in the implementation and optimisation of Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Drive standardisation, simplification and automation across finance processes.
• Lead finance transformation initiatives that improve efficiency, controls and reporting capability.
• Ensure successful adoption of new technologies and ways of working.
• Act as a change leader, helping the organisation navigate ongoing transformation.

Operational Oversight

• Ensure service level expectations are met and continuously improved.
• Drive consistency and process excellence across finance operations.
• Monitor key performance indicators and service outcomes.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant post-qualification experience in senior finance leadership roles.
• Proven experience leading financial control, reporting and compliance functions within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong technical accounting expertise and understanding of IFRS.
• Extensive experience managing internal and external audit processes.
• Strong knowledge of SOX controls, governance and risk management frameworks.
• Demonstrated success developing high-performing finance teams.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership teams and influencing strategic decisions.
• Strong systems experience including ERP platforms.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and leadership skills.

Desirable

• Big 4 training background.
• Experience within FMCG, distribution, foodservice, retail or manufacturing sectors.
• Experience leading ERP implementation or finance transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Experience operating within a multinational group reporting environment.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strategic and commercial mindset.
• Strong leadership presence and ability to influence at executive level.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism and accountability.
• Excellent judgement and decision-making capability.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset.
• Resilience and adaptability in a changing environment.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation.