The Accounting and Control team is the engine room of the Secret Escapes finance function. Secret Escapes has operations across the globe and this role is responsible for the delivery of accurate and timely financial reporting for the Group. 

We’re constantly looking for new and better ways to improve the accuracy of the numbers we present, and use data and automation to streamline processes. There's a real opportunity to make your mark on the team, and work with Group leadership to build a best in class finance function to support the next phase of growth and help to build the ‘exit readiness’ of the Secret Escapes group.

About Secret Escapes 

Secret Escapes is the world’s leading members-only online travel deal company, offering inspiring travel experiences and hand-picked offers to over 75 million users worldwide across our family of brands. 

Operating in 14 countries across Europe and Asia, Secret Escapes Group continues to grow and establish itself as a world-class business, dedicated to giving our members the best range and value in luxury travel deals at low prices.

Secret Escapes operates a flexible working policy and we are all in the office 1 day a week (minimum) and have core hours of 10am-4pm (you can make up the other hours to suit you). In keeping with being an inspirational travel brand, we also have a ‘Work from Anywhere’ policy, so you can work from anywhere in the world for up to a month each year!

We’re a diverse and inclusive bunch of individuals from different backgrounds and with varied interests, but the one thing we all have in common is that we’re good people (even if we do say so ourselves!). 

Things you and the team will be working on:

You will own management and statutory accounting and reporting across the P&L, balance sheet and cash flow, meaning you’ll be integral to developing the financial strategy and liquidity plans for the business through the next phase of its growth and development, helping to build the ‘exit readiness’ of the Secret Escapes group.

You’ll lead a team of 12 to ensure the accuracy and completeness of what’s input into the finance system (NetSuite), and that the Group’s financial reporting meets accounting standards and can be efficiently interrogated. Responsibility for audit, statutory and compliance reporting sits here.

In this role, you will….

• Own the delivery of accurate and timely internal management and external statutory reporting which involves multi-currency consolidation of results across the 15 entities within our Group
• Ensure Secret Escapes complies with all audit, statutory and finance relevant regulatory requirements
• Have regular interaction with Group leadership and be a proactive contributor to Leadership Team discussions, strategy and planning
• Manage, mentor and develop a team of 12, ensuring the team is motivated and performing to the highest standards in line with Secret Escapes core values
• Develop and execute a plan covering the financial accounting and control elements of exit readiness using recent FDD exercise as a source for areas of improvement 
• Own the relationship with the Group’s auditors, managing the whole process and handling any queries
• Oversee the Group’s cash management, forecasting and treasury needs, including maintaining strong relationships with our banking providers
• Actively challenge the status-quo of current processes and systems, exploring any potential improvements and ensuring that a robust control environment is in place
• Develop processes to push insights to the wider business on bottom line profitability and cash
• Work with our colleagues in our Group Brands to ensure local management and statutory reporting is aligned with central reporting and complies with Group accounting policies (we have acquired subsidiaries in Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic).
• Work with the FP&A team to support the annual budgeting and forecasting processes
• Represent Finance in Commercial project teams

Your experience: 

• A fully qualified accountant (ACA or equivalent) with significant post-qualified experience 
• Comfortable preparing financial statements under IFRS/UK GAAP and managing multi-currency consolidation processes
• Track record of managing audits autonomously, acting as the key point of contact and managing the end-to-end process.
• Proven ability to deliver complex projects, develop processes that can scale, and improve finance systems 
• Team leadership; being a role model
• Working in a multinational business spanning a breadth of jurisdictions and accepted accounting principles

And you…

• Are an excellent communicator; at ease explaining complex accounting concepts to a lay audience 
• Are happy to roll up sleeves on detailed work as well as strategically manage workstreams
• Have gravitas, style and a presence that makes a lasting impression
• Have the influencing skills to manage important matrix relationships as well as direct reports
• Are open-minded enough to listen to and be influenced by sound arguments and new information or evidence
• Set an inspiring example through personal delivery, energy and determination
• Have a strong desire to develop and grow the skills and performance of your team

Things you should know 

As well as our hybrid working where colleagues come into the London office 1 day a week, we also have a work from anywhere policy where our colleagues can work from anywhere for up to 30 days a year! We would consider flexible options for this role, including a four day working week.

We are an equal opportunity employer:

Diversity and inclusion are important to us at Secret Escapes and we encourage a culture where everyone can be themselves at work. We value and actively seek out a richly diverse range of talent and our policies ensure that every job application and employee is treated fairly, with equal opportunity to succeed. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.