Financial Controller

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is a high-profile organisation and trade association leading the international clean energy transition as the world seeks to stay within 1.5c global warming target. Our mission is to ensure that wind power establishes itself as the answer to today’s energy challenges, providing substantial environmental and economic benefits. We have innovative programmes and collaborations promoting sustainable offshore wind development, mentoring women working in wind industry, education and energy access.  We are a Belgium registered charity with subsidiary companies and offices in the UK, India, China, Portugal, Singapore, UAE and Vietnam and a global staff of around 70. We have grown our revenue five times in as many years to €12m and have bold growth plans over the next decade as we seek the urgent scale up of wind and clean energy in new and existing markets. We have over 20 live grants of up to $4m in value to support our work, particularly in the regional markets.

The HQ finance team is based in the UK Shoreham office with a team of five and additional staff in key locations and several outsourced arrangement for local accounting and compliance.

Overall purpose:                                                

To account for and report of the financial performance of GWEC as a whole, Belgium parent entities and other subsidiaries.

To support the UK, Belgium Secretariat and international teams in all financial aspects relating accounting.

Main duties and responsibilities

Working closely with the Finance Team and outsourced local finance specialists:

•         Prepare regular management accounts, budget performance and cashflow forecast for group and subsidiaries

•         Perform consolidation of the group

•         Lead GWEC parent company accounting

•         Monthly posting to and reconciliation of project fund accounts

•         Prepare monthly accounting close, perform the year end close, and

•         Work with the CFO in preparation of the annual financial statements

•         Oversee weekly payment runs

•         Administer monthly payroll (including of overseas jurisdictions) in conjunction with local payroll bureau

•         Review or prepare VAT returns

•         Manage international cash ensuring funds are available in the countries and accounts as required.

•         Reconcile relevant Balance Sheet accounts

Essentia Person Criteria:

•         Right to work in the UK, fluency in written and spoken English

•         Qualified CCAB accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIPFA, or AAT (min. level 3 or equivalent) or Masters degree in Accounting

•         Strong knowledge of accounting principles, taxes, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting

•         7 or more year’s work experience in finance and administration management

•         Great IT skills- multiple Accounting Systems and advanced Excel skills (e.g. use of VLOOKUP’s, Pivot tables etc)

•         Strong analytic skills and problem-solving abilities

Desirable Person Criteria:

•         Experience of working in finance in an international organisation

•         Project or fund accounting experience

•         A passion for renewable energies

What we offer

•         Flexible working with genuine hybrid working arrangement (1-2 days per week in office)

•         Part time- 4 day a week option (incumbent is part time)

•         25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

•         Private medical insurance

•         Employers pension contribution

•         Fast growing, dynamic international organisation

•         Chance to be part of the green energy transition

•         Fantastic new offices at great Shoreham Harbour location, near Brighton

•         Great autonomy  

•         Mentoring from an experienced commercial CFO