Commercial & Programmes Controller, NW Europe
Job Description
Job title: Commercial & Programmes Controller, NW Europe
Company: Smiths Detection
Job description: SMITHS DETECTION MAKING THE WORLD A SAFER PLACEEvery minute of every day, in nearly every country across the globe, Smiths Detection people and technology make the world a safer place. We safeguard people, business and infrastructure with the latest innovations and screening technology for aviation, ports, borders, defense, and security across 55 countries around the globeLife At Smiths –
- Global leader: We impact critical systems every day with sites in 17 countries and six centers of research excellence. From pioneering to powering life-changing innovation, we’re delivering threat detection and screening solutions to safeguard the world from threat
- Digital growth: A key part of our capability is the integration of digital technology across our business and our operations in more than 55 countries, will be critical to our continued success
- Exciting opportunities: Our growth is creating exciting opportunities to work with experts in physics, chemistry, electronics, mechanics, production, computer science, and AIML
- International environment: With some projects, work requires global collaboration and the potential to travel and grow with the business
Job DescriptionSmiths Detection is a division of Smiths Group Plc, a FTSE 100 Company operating in more than 50 countries and employing over 23,000 people. The business is a world leader in the design and manufacturing of detection equipment into the transportation, military and other markets.Based at our Centre of Excellence in Hemel Hempstead, as Commercial & Programmes controller, you will be responsible for managing the sales forecasting (Order Intake, Revenue & Margin) processes and all programme accounting for the NW Europe region (UK, Ireland and Israel). Sales forecasting occurs in a variety of ways: 5 year strategic plan, annual budget, formal revised forecasts and monthly rolling forecast.This role is responsible for keeping all those forecasts aligned and up to date with the latest commercial information and providing variance explanations as required. A large part of Smiths Detection’s revenue comes from programme sales of equipment; this role will need to forecast that revenue (in accordance with IFRS15) and ensure appropriate revenue recognition occurs at month end, as well as maintaining programmes accounting closing balances (deferred revenue, WIP, Unbilled etc).Duties and Responsibilities (Includes but not limited to)
- Oversea the maintenance of the rolling monthly Market Review forecast for Order Intake and Revenue looking forward 18 months for the NW Europe market [UK, Ireland & Israel].
- Stay up to date on developments with Programmes, Sales & Operations to understand status of Orders & Revenue and ensure the rolling forecasts, annual Budget, programmes accounting and invoicing is updated accordingly.
- Flag significant issues to NW Europe market management where appropriate. Explain & justify movements in Forecast and differences vs. actual numbers booked.
- Manage all IFRS15 issues (in conjunction with the UK Financial Controller) related to Programmes, to ensure accounting & forecast accuracy.
- Monthly review of all programmes balances (WIP, deferred revenue, unbilled), raising accruals or other entries as appropriate. Stay current on global commercial initiatives (new products, current strategy etc) to advise of impacts for NW Europe market, actively contributing towards the forecast & Budget process.
- Manage preparation of weekly KPIs for Market Head & monthly Market Review presentations and data submissions to Divisional HQ.
- Support UK Financial Controller with commercial variance explanations required for internal reporting and external audit purposes.
- Preparation of financial modelling supporting bids & tenders for programmes. Support Sales with reviews of detail of pricing quoted in tender documents for accuracy.
- Ensure all internal controls and accounting policies regarding programmes accounting and bids & tenders are followed. Recommend improvements to the same where appropriate. Develop close working relationships in a cross-functional market matrix team to enable good communication & understanding of issues.
- Lead Revenue and Order Intake for the annual Budget & Strat Plan (5-year forecast) process.
- Use Smiths Excellence System LEAN tools to actively refine and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the forecasting & budgeting process.
- Monitor & drive improvements in SAP data accuracy entered by Sales and Ops teams. Work with Order-to-Invoice team to ensure all programme invoicing occurs on schedule.
- Manage a team delivering all of the above.
About you
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA ,CIMA or equivalent)
- Good knowledge or experience of IFRS standards, especially IFRS15 accounting for programmes with detailed knowledge of IncoTerms and related revenue recognition issues.
- Experience of commercial sales forecasting & analysis for decision making.
- Commercially astute and used to working in an international, matrix environment.
- Professional, succinct and confident communicator to senior leadership.
- Good MS office / Excel, SAP and management information systems (Oracle EPBCS) skills.
- Detailed knowledge of SAP programme accounting; WBS structures, ZPLANS and reporting.
- Foreign language skills (especially Hebrew) an advantage.
To find out more about life at Smiths Detection check out our LinkedInJoin us for a great career and competitive compensation & benefits whilst keeping the world a safer place.Diversity & InclusionWe believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, 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. We have several employee-led Employee Resources Groups (women@work, Black Employees Network, Veterans, Pride Network) providing support, enhancing career development, and contributing to personal development in the work environment and beyond.At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, 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 ( )or LinkedIn.#Smiths
Expected salary:
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
