Interim Record to Report (R2R) & Audit Readiness Lead
Contract: Interim / Fixed Term Contract (Possibly Temp – Perm)
Sector: International Trading, Distribution & Supply Chain
Reporting to: Senior Finance Leadership
Location: London / Hybrid
Other: Part-Time (4 days could be considered)
The Opportunity
We are recruiting for an accomplished Record to Report (R2R) and Audit Readiness Lead to support a substantial, multi-region international business operating within a complex trading and distribution environment.
This is a critical, delivery-focused assignment requiring an experienced finance professional who can bring structure, rigour and accountability to financial reporting processes, ensuring the organisation is fully prepared to meet demanding audit and reporting deadlines.
Working closely with senior finance leadership, regional finance teams and external auditors, the successful candidate will take ownership of key R2R activities, strengthen financial controls and drive the successful delivery of audit requirements within an accelerated timeframe.
This is not a purely advisory or process improvement role. We are looking for someone who has personally delivered results in financial reporting environments, can establish control quickly and has the resilience and technical capability to see an assignment through to successful audit completion.
Key Responsibilities
R2R Leadership & Audit Delivery
- Take ownership of critical Record to Report activities, ensuring financial reporting processes are robust, accurate and audit-ready.
- Establish a clear, prioritised delivery plan aligned to demanding audit and reporting deadlines.
- Review the integrity of general ledger balances, supporting reconciliations and financial reporting information.
- Identify and resolve financial reporting issues, control weaknesses and outstanding audit requirements.
- Drive the timely preparation, review and completion of balance sheet reconciliations, journals, accruals and intercompany accounting.
- Coordinate audit deliverables across multiple regions, ensuring consistency, accountability and timely resolution of outstanding matters.
- Work directly with internal stakeholders and external auditors to resolve queries, provide supporting evidence and progress towards successful audit sign-off.
- Introduce appropriate governance, reporting and escalation procedures to maintain momentum and ensure delivery against agreed milestones.
Inventory, Trading & Distribution Accounting
- Apply strong financial control principles within an inventory-intensive, trading or distribution environment.
- Review inventory accounting, stock reconciliations, valuation methodologies and associated balance sheet controls.
- Understand the financial implications of complex supply chains, including stock movements, goods in transit, cut-off procedures and intercompany trading.
- Identify potential financial reporting risks associated with inventory, cost of sales, margin recognition and working capital.
- Work closely with supply chain, operations and regional finance teams to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial information.
- Strengthen the relationship between operational data, inventory systems and financial reporting.
Financial Controls, Governance & Process Improvement
- Assess existing R2R processes and identify areas requiring immediate remediation.
- Establish clear ownership, supporting documentation and evidence for key financial controls.
- Improve the quality and consistency of reconciliations and reporting across regional finance teams.
- Ensure appropriate audit trails are maintained and that financial information can withstand external scrutiny.
- Introduce practical, sustainable improvements without compromising critical reporting deadlines.
- Support compliance with relevant Group reporting policies, accounting standards and internal control frameworks.
Stakeholder Management & Delivery
- Act as a credible, hands-on partner to senior finance leadership, regional finance teams and external auditors.
- Provide clear and regular updates on progress, outstanding risks and actions required to achieve audit readiness.
- Challenge existing processes and behaviours where necessary to ensure delivery.
- Coordinate cross-functional activities involving finance, operations, supply chain and systems teams.
- Take ownership of complex issues, driving them through to resolution rather than simply identifying problems.
The Person We're Looking for
We are seeking a fully qualified accountant, preferably ACA or ACCA, with substantial experience gained within a supply chain, distribution or trading business.
This sector background is essential. The successful candidate must understand the financial complexities of inventory-intensive operations, including stock valuation, inventory controls, working capital, intercompany transactions and the relationship between operational activity and financial reporting.
Equally important is a demonstrable track record of delivering successful audit outcomes, particularly within complex international organisations operating against demanding reporting deadlines.
We need someone who brings technical credibility, exceptional rigour and personal accountability. You will be comfortable taking ownership of challenging situations, establishing clear priorities and driving issues through to resolution.
This is a delivery-led appointment. Proven results, rather than simply exposure to similar projects, will be fundamental to selection.
Essential Experience & Qualifications
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA preferred). A recognised equivalent professional accounting qualification may be considered, but full qualification is mandatory.
- Essential sector experience within supply chain, distribution or trading. Candidates must demonstrate direct experience of the financial and operational complexities associated with these environments.
- Significant experience in Record to Report, financial control, statutory reporting or audit readiness.
- Proven track record of successfully delivering financial reporting and audit requirements against challenging deadlines.
- Strong understanding of inventory accounting, stock valuation, reconciliations and associated financial controls.
- Experience working across multiple entities, countries or reporting regions.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge, including balance sheet integrity, intercompany accounting and financial reporting controls.
- Demonstrable experience identifying, prioritising and resolving complex accounting or audit issues.
- Experience working directly with external auditors through to successful audit completion.
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to challenge, influence and drive accountability.
- A disciplined, methodical approach with exceptional attention to detail.
Highly Desirable
- Experience within a large-scale international trading or distribution organisation.
- Previous experience leading accelerated audit readiness or financial reporting remediation assignments.
- Experience working within a listed or internationally owned Group.
- Knowledge of SOX, J-SOX or similarly rigorous financial control environments.
- Experience improving reporting consistency across geographically dispersed finance teams.
- Strong ERP knowledge, particularly within complex inventory and distribution environments.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this assignment will ultimately be measured by the successful delivery of audit requirements and achievement of external audit sign-off within the agreed reporting timetable.
The successful candidate will have:
- Established a clear, structured and achievable audit readiness plan.
- Taken ownership of critical R2R deliverables and driven them through to completion.
- Resolved material reconciliation issues, reporting discrepancies and outstanding audit matters.
- Ensured inventory and other significant balance sheet positions are appropriately supported, reconciled and evidenced.
- Strengthened the accuracy, consistency and reliability of financial reporting across multiple regions.
- Established clear accountability and effective coordination between regional finance teams.
- Delivered complete, accurate and timely audit evidence.
- Maintained effective engagement with external auditors and senior stakeholders.
- Demonstrated measurable improvements in financial control, reporting discipline and audit preparedness.
- Contributed directly to the successful completion and sign-off of the external audit within the required timeframe.
The Opportunity to Make an Impact
This is a significant assignment for an experienced finance professional who thrives in complex environments and takes pride in delivering tangible results.
The successful individual will be recognised for their ability to bring financial discipline, technical expertise and decisive leadership to a business-critical programme.
We are particularly interested in individuals who can demonstrate that they have successfully delivered comparable assignments, rather than simply participated in them.
Proven delivery, technical rigour and personal accountability will be central to success.