Operations Finance Analyst in UK

About Smiths

At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver market-leading innovative solutions that meet our customers' evolving needs and touch the lives of millions of people every day. We are a FTSE100, global business of around 23,000 colleagues, based in 55 countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity, and supporting new homes. Our products and services are often critical to our customers’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with an almost 170-year history of innovation, and five global divisions, all experts in their field.

This role supports the provision of financial insight to the Financial Director, Global Operations. The individual will be expected to make a full contribution to the provision of timely, accurate, complete and consistent metrics and ensure the appropriate existence and functioning of finance related operating procedures in respect of the France Operations business.

The role is based in the UK.

Responsibilities:

• Financial reporting: Overall responsibility for financial reporting of headcount, inventory and other balances relating to the Vitry Operations and Global Function.
• Preparing, reviewing and posting month end and quarter end balances/journals within area of responsibility, including relevant accruals, inventory adjustments, production WIP, inventory provisions and profit in stock. On time completion of relevant deliverables, e.g. profit in stock reporting, minimum controls checklists. Timely responses to Management or Smiths Detection HQ questions on monthly reporting balances. Balance sheet reconciliations during and post month end for assigned balances.
• Interim and full year reporting, including preparation of Financials and HQ query files, for areas of responsibility.
• Working with auditors (internal and external) to provide supporting documentation, analysis and answers to deliverables requests and queries.
• Actively engaging in the completeness, consistency and timely reporting of the monthly finance related Operations metrics such as absorption, labour utilisation, production order variances, cycle count variances etc.
• Prepare the finance section of the monthly Operations report.
• Financial Planning: Support the preparation of Vitry Operations’ cost centre forecasts and budgets, including cost, capex and headcount forecasts. This includes preparation of templates/provision of forecasting tools and consolidation of deliverables.
• Review, analyse and challenge forecasts and budgets for all Operations. Drive identification and implementation of savings to increase profits and cash in the business.
• Support and prepare all other elements of the Operations forecasts and budgets, including forecasted factory output and inventory forecasts. Prepare and present financial reporting elements of forecast/budget presentations for Operations to Functional and Local Management.
• Cost Control: Robust and consistent cost control including understanding of monthly variances giving rise to under/over absorption within Operations, in addition to holding and supporting cost centre reviews with key cost centre owners.
• Employ techniques such as analytical review to support constructive challenges to the cost centre owners to ensure the cost base is understood and controlled. Hold and support regular cost centre reviews for key cost centres.
• Inventory / Cost Rolls: Control, analysis, discipline of using ERP and overall supporting inventory reduction planning. Supporting inventory transparency and decision making.
• Processing and ensuring appropriate sign off under the DOA of inventory adjustments, including scrap and write off decisions, and deviations from inventory provisioning policy.
• Calculation of labour and overhead rates and supply of analysis explaining movements to prior rates
• Ensure SAP compliance is maintained, and processes adhered to for example in the areas of inventory control.
• Ownership and management of the annual cost roll process for FR00 together with subsequent impact analysis.
• Internal Controls : Ensure financial controls are in place and adhered to.
• Policies & Procedures : Ensure the business is compliant with all Smiths Group financial policies and procedures, such as delegation of authority, expense procedures, capex applications, foreign exchange, etc. Complying with and promoting all relevant legal requirements & Smiths policies and procedures, including business ethics, data protection and health & safety.
• Communication: Maintain open and clear lines of communications with all relevant stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive efficiencies within Finance team and wider business, including looking for opportunities to transfer further transaction processing work into shared services. Challenging the business on all areas of process and cost control.
• Support SAP initiatives to enhance the level of consistency and automation of Operations / Finance processes.
• Support the wider Global Operations teams in other countries where required.
• Support the Vitry finance team when asked by the Global Operations Finance Director.
• Ad-hoc projects/requests: Complete various ad-hoc projects as required, including the opportunity to get involved in SAP enhancements and support.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, ACMA), or close to completion of exams, and educated to a degree level.
• A conscientious approach to reporting and thirst for analysis and problem solving.
• Comfortable working with different cultures.
• Experience working with SAP is a significant advantage.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Experience of dealing with large organisations and consolidations is an advantage.
• Work environment is typically an office environment located on-site, within a Smiths location during normal or extended business hours. Work environment may also include employee’s residence, customer site or other location as required. Required to travel on an as needed basis.
• Fluent English and French language skills.

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, 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.