Role Description:
The Head of Accounting Operations will lead and oversee the Club’s accounting operations, ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective financial controls, and compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulations. The role is responsible for managing daily accounting activities, overseeing financial transactions, improving processes, and ensuring the timely and accurate preparation of financial statements to support the Club’s financial performance and strategic objectives.
Key Accountabilities:
· Set the strategy, operating model, policies, and service standards for accounting operations.
· Oversee general ledger, payables, receivables, fixed assets, payroll accounting interfaces, and operational accounting processes.
· Own the accounting close calendar and ensure timely, accurate, and controlled period-end completion.
· Ensure consistent application of IFRS, approved accounting policies, delegated authorities, and regulatory requirements.
· Establish effective balance sheet governance, reconciliation standards, and issue-escalation mechanisms.
· Oversee accounting support for financial statements, audits, tax filings, budgets, forecasts, and management reporting.
· Assess accounting implications of major contracts, player-related transactions, commercial arrangements, projects, and organizational changes.
· Identify financial and operational control risks and sponsor remediation plans.
· Lead finance transformation, process standardization, shared-service improvements, automation, and ERP optimization.
· Define functional KPIs and report service quality, close performance, backlogs, and control status to the CFO.
· Build team capability through workforce planning, performance management, coaching, and succession planning.
Manage relationships with auditors, banks, vendors, and professional advisors on accounting operations matters.
Education:
· Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
· SOCPA, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent professional qualification is required.
Postgraduate qualification is preferred.
Experience:
· 12+ years of progressive accounting experience.
· Substantial leadership experience in accounting operations and financial close.
· Experience in sports, entertainment, hospitality, or another complex sector is desirable.
Skills:
· Strategic and operational finance leadership.
· IFRS, controls, and accounting governance expertise.
· Transformation, systems, and process optimization.
· Executive communication and stakeholder influence.
Talent development and organizational leadership.
