Internal Controls Manager

Company Description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place. 

Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.  

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

Single point accountability for management and governance and of Internal Controls across Smiths Detection.   Focus will be primarily financial controls, as a result risk and corporate governance focus, but responsibilities will be beyond oversight of items that are delivered by finance team members.

The individual provides leadership in developing and managing the Divisional minimum control frameworks and the implementation and maintenance of the framework across the Detection sites.

Duties:

• Ownership of Smiths Detection Internal Control Framework.
• Responsibility for design of new approach suitable for Detection under a structure separate from Smiths Group.
• Review existing approach and set up new ways of working to ensure comprehensive risk management, focusing on financial controls that achieve appropriate balance between agility and reduction / mitigation of risk.
• Write new policies, review existing documentation and communicate effectively to implement changes effectively.
• Establish a regular cadence of refreshing policies and responding to change requirements.
• While still owned by Smiths Group - provide division level inputs into Group control initiatives, including the Control Self Assessment process, Internal Audit, Internal Controls Enhancement (including Test of Design and Test of Operating Effectiveness) and gap mitigation arising from these.
• In preparation for separation – consider each of these areas and oversee the migration from a Smiths Group led process to a future state control process framework under a demerged or different ownership structure.
• Understand control gaps, define new controls; implement control improvements and remediation plans.  Ensure agreed timeframes are realistic and follow-up regularly to ensure that the division delivers on its promises for control improvements.
• Ensure that the division has appropriate financial controls in place to ensure completeness and accuracy of financial reporting, whilst assessing the burden associated with proposed new solutions, so priorities and risks feed into decision making.
• Proactively drive change and improvements in processes and controls – working closely with divisional management to prioritise and ensure risk-based decisions
• Liaise with Internal and External Auditors on control developments and best practice.
• Maintain the Division wide Delegation of Authority, balancing efficiency and effectiveness as well as maintaining strong financial controls by having the right people signing off on decisions.
• Preparing and presenting training on policies and communicating to Global Finance and wider on changes and to refresh knowledge of policies
• Liaise with Internal and External Auditors on control developments and best practice.
• Ad Hoc projects and tasks as required.

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent.
• Professional Financial Qualification (ACA, CIMA or ACCA)

Experience

• Significant experience in day to day and influencing roles working in a relevant global, large corporate environment.
• Significant experience and working knowledge of controls policies implementation.
• Experience of working with external and internal audit.
• Experience of working in a function with Internal Controls focus.
• Experience of designing and implement internal control frameworks desirable but not essential.

Knowledge/Skills/Other attributes

• Demonstrable record of influencing people who are not direct reports

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to think clearly, be organized and execute effectively.
• Good project management skills, with a track record of working with a wide range of globally located stakeholders effectively.

Planning and Decision Making:

• The individual is highly organised and would be solely responsible for managing the periodically large workloads with tight deadlines.
• The individual is a self-starter and can manage tasks on a largely autonomous basis.
• The individual is responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with divisional policies and so should be confident communicating to a high range of stakeholders with varying seniority across Smiths Detection

Impact and Scope: 

• This job will be key in developing the Internal Control over Financial Reporting landscape within Detection.
• This job will be integral in the further development, monitoring and maintenance of the Detection control environment through a period of change
• This role will be responsible for minimising risks at local entity and divisional level and ensuring that processes are compliant.

Key Internal and External Relationships: 

• Senior management within Smiths Detection
• Divisional and Smiths Group Finance and Internal Control teams
• Internal and external auditors.

Additional Information

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll 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 world-leader, 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 color, 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 career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)