As we continue our mission to make people happy through chocolate, we’re looking for a Senior Finance Manager – Group Reporting to join our Finance team on a full-time basis.

Responsible for ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of all externally reported information for the Hotel Chocolat Group, this pivotal role also includes leading improvements in the internal control environment and managing cash flow forecasting and reporting. You’ll report to the Head of Tax, Treasury & Financial Reporting and work collaboratively across teams to ensure financial excellence.

As well as a competitive salary and a range of company benefits, you’ll receive 50% discount on all products, and a 70% discount for you and your guests when you stay at our Rabot Estate hideaway on the paradise island of Saint Lucia.

Here at Hotel Chocolat, we've adopted hybrid working. This means you’ll join us on-site for three days a week, and for the other two days – you can work from wherever you like! The on-site location for this role is our support office, ‘Mint House,’ in Royston, Hertfordshire. Our home from the very beginning, it’s just off the A505 and 10 minutes’ walk from Royston train station, with direct rail links to London King’s Cross.

What you’ll be doing…

Month-End Reporting

• Submission of external reporting to Mars Inc.
• Preparation of the consolidated Group Balance Sheet.
• Preparation of the cash flow statement, including periodic forecasting.
• Entity Balance Sheet review and reporting.
• Technical Group accounting for hedging contracts, intercompany loans, wholesale contracts, and provisions.
• Maintaining currency rates for use across the Group.

Technical Accounting Leadership

• Leading the quarterly Technical Accounting Group Committee.
• Ensuring appropriate accounting treatments in line with local standards (IFRS, UK GAAP) and Group Policy (US GAAP).
• Acting as a business partner on new projects.
• Keeping abreast of technical developments in accounting standards to inform the wider Finance team on changes and their impacts.

Year-End Audit & Reporting

• Managing the audit plan and deliverables for the Group Audit, partnering with Group Auditors and the finance team.
• Working with the Financial Reporting team to prepare consolidated financial statements.
• Delivering subsidiary statutory accounts in line with required filing deadlines.

Internal Control

• Reviewing current processes, controls, and policies with Mars Inc. to close gaps and improve efficiency.
• Collaborating with the wider Finance team to update and complete internal process control documentation.
• Maintaining the internal controls gap tracker and preparing quarterly reports for the CFO.

Who you are…

A highly skilled finance professional with strong technical expertise and the ability to thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.

Essential:

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA) with 3+ years post-qualification experience.
• Strong technical knowledge of accounting standards.
• Proven experience in consolidation reporting.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with the ability to manage deliverables across teams.
• Attention to detail and a drive to deliver accurate results on time.
• Exceptional communication skills, able to interact across all levels of the business and externally.
• Strong Excel knowledge.

Desirable:

• Experience with D365 ERP systems.
• Exposure to Retail or Consumer Goods businesses.

Who are we?
We’re one of the UK’s favourite premium chocolate brands, with a range of products spanning luxury gifts, alcohol, and our pioneering drinking chocolate system, the Velvetiser™.

A cacao pod takes years to grow – it can’t be rushed if it’s going to be just right for our products. The same can be said for Hotel Chocolat, which originally started as a mint production company before we realised it was luxury chocolate that we were really passionate about.

Now, we’re market leaders in the industry. What began as an online-only business grew to over 140 stores across the UK, and we’re still growing… Today, we’re multi-category, multi-channel, and multi-territory, and our customers, colleagues, cacao farmers, and suppliers all benefit from the success we make together.

To learn more about us and read about our People Pledge – our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion – click here: hotelchocolat.com/uk/engaged-ethics/our-people.html.