Global Markets and Global Treasury Global Accounting Operations Lead (UK Cluster), AVP

Global Markets and Global Treasury Global Accounting Operations Lead (UK Cluster), AVP

About Global Accounting Operations (GAO)

One of the objectives of State Street Beacon initiative was to functionalize Corporate Functions and re-align Finance Operating Model. To support this objective State Street established in 2017 Global Accounting Operations (GAO) organization based on the principles of Global Process Ownership and process excellence. GAO has been responsible for the majority of the record-to-report (R2R) processes performed at State Street including Accounts Payables, Revenue Accounting, Expense Accounting, Close and Consolidation, Balance Sheet Substantiation, Projected Accounting, Specialized Accounting, Intercompany and Allocations, Financial Systems Support. GAO combines all groups performing these activities globally (NA, EMEA, APAC) and includes Shared Services Accounting centers located in Poland, India and China. GAO works in partnership with Business and Legal Entity Controllers, Regulatory Reporting, Corporate Tax, FP&A, Financial Planning & Analysis, Technology, Finance and Risk Infrastructure and Business Solutions (FRIBS) and other stakeholder functions.

In addition to BAU accounting processes mentioned above GAO has sponsored and introduced a number of company-wide re-engineering efforts driving fundamental re-design and standardization of R2R processes at State Street, transforming GAO operating model, implementing industry's best practices, and bringing next level of automation to finance areas. GAO Organization has structured and started execution of the Global Accounting Re-Engineering Program (GARP) which became one of the most critical initiatives for the State Street Finance, focusing on roll-out of consistent general ledger and sub-ledger processes supported by Oracle EBS and other solutions.

EMEA GAO Global Markets and Global Treasury Lead (AVP) role

EMEA GAO team is comprised of three groups:

• GAO UK Cluster: UK, Ireland, Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), Middle East and Luxemburg and
• GAO Continental Europe Cluster: France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Poland
• GAO Financial Shared Service Centre (FSSC) in Krakow which supports EMEA specific accounting processes and certain global processes

Cluster roles are organized along the lines of material Business Units (Global Markets, Global Advisors, Global Exchange and Global Services) and material legal entities. Every member of the team wears two "hats" and covers a business and an entity or a group of entities. Responsibilities of the Cluster team include analysis, assurance, interface and process improvement for respective businesses and entities.

The role of GAO UK Cluster Global Markets and Global Treasury Lead reports into UK Cluster GAO Lead. The role works closely with respective Legal Entity and Business Controller, GPO, FP&A, Regulatory Reporting and Process Tower Leads in Shared Services Accounting Centers in Poland and India.

Primary Responsibilities

Analysis and assurance

• Validate and challenge financial and management results taking into account expected results, known material episodic items, known process changes, information from other areas of Finance
• Perform oversight of financial close activities and act as an escalation point
• Provide feedback on control design, control and process effectiveness to GPO

Interface

• Single point of contact for non-GAO stakeholders for matters related to UK Cluster GM/GT results
• Respond to requests for data along with questions from External Auditors and Teams outside the Global Accounting Operations group
• Liaison with Global Accounting Policy on accounting issues

Transformation & GAO Business Representation

• Participate in various initiatives to support the Global Treasury business and technology strategy
• Act as SME for GM/GT accounting technology and product processors design, change and implementation
• Partner with GPO to ensure requirements and solution design reflect geography and product specifics;
• Facilitate sharing of best practices to strengthen control environment

Qualifications/Experience

Education/Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or master's degree in accounting, business, economics, finance, or a related field;
• Qualified accountant (ACCA/CPA/CFA) with post qualification experience preferred.
  

Core experience

• 5+ years of progressive career in line Finance roles at a Financial institution or Audit as Product/Entity Controller, FP&A, Corporate Reporting, Finance Assurance, other areas of Corporate Finance
• Treasury and/or Global Markets (FX, Securities Finance) experience with relevant accounting knowledge
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good communication skills. Ability to present complex concepts in a simple manner
• Risk Excellence and operational excellence mindset. Good grasp of Internal Controls principles
• Ability to work in fast paced, challenging environment with multiple and competing priorities.
• Ability to operate within geographically distributed team
• Practical experience in main areas of Record to Report (R2R) process (accounting, close & consolidation, transfer pricing/allocations, balance sheet substantiation, regulatory and management reporting, etc.)