Support Centre Job Description - 2025
Job Title:
Senior Controls Analyst
Brand/ Function:
Whitbread PLC-Finance
Job Holder: Vacant Reports to: Martina Walker-Finance Manager Controls
JD Completed By: Martina Walker Date: 15.04.2025
What is the main
purpose of the job? Should be one or two
sentences, the WHY of the job.
Primary second line of defence for Whitbread in ensuring AP, AR, Banking, Treasury, Finance system user access and Accounting & Control are well-controlled. Responsible for ensuring segregation of duties across financial transactions through monthly review of access conflicts and technical lead of SOFY system. Leads internal review on fraud vulnerability and response framework. Responsible for agenda and key presenter at Fraud Steering Committee on quarterly basis. Key contact for external auditors on IT General Controls. Testing of monthly controls and preparation of monthly controls pack for Group Financial Controller. To support the wider Financial Control team to provide assurance to the business on the adequacy and effectiveness of key financial controls by gaining a good understanding of financial and business processes through performance of walkthroughs, assessing the design and operational effectiveness of financial controls the business has self-assessed on, and documentation of reliable and accurate testing results. Support the quarterly Financial Control Framework (FCF) control self-assessments, asserting that the business has a robust financial controls framework in place. Track action plans for control deficiencies identified, support rolling out training and providing guidance to the business, help embed internal controls as BAU and undertaking ad hoc tasks or projects, as required. To lead the Whitbread response to the change in corporate governance as proposed by BEIS Paper; Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance . Monitor timely and full implementation of recommended control improvements; maintain and report on the effectiveness of, and compliance with Policies and Procedures
Who are the Job holder’s main stakeholders?
Director Financial Reporting & Control Head of Finance-Control & SSC Audit Committee Wider finance team Finance Business Partners Operational Teams External auditors Internal Audit
Scale & Authority (e.g. size of budget
/ team etc):
Financial Control within Whitbread plc [FTSE 100] Support to UK, Germany & Chain
No direct reports
Org Chart:
What are the main Key Tasks & Activities
• Fraud reviews and controls to mitigate fraud, including the continued development and maintenance of the fraud risk register.
• Lead the COSO activity in response to the BEIS Paper on audit effectiveness and the implementation of the UK corporate governance code.
• Monthly Controls testing through performance of process and control walkthroughs and/or carrying out sample controls testing.
• SOFY systems controls and monthly segregation of duty controls
• IT General controls and service auditor report and controls review in line with report
• Adequate and accurate documentation of the controls validation results carried out, maintaining a complete set of working papers to support resulting outcomes.
• Track the progress of any identified control deficiencies and Internal audit actions, in order to report to the Controls Steering Group.
• Period end reviews that link into SOFY (Controls System)/ FCF sign off on Systems access controls, segregation of duties and assurance analysis for areas of focus
• Assisting the Finance Manager-Controls UK in preparing and rolling out training and awareness workshops to control owners and their teams, capturing feedback to continuously improve the overall FCF process.
• Building effective relationships with key stakeholders, in order to work better together and identifying opportunities for improving or strengthening existing processes or controls.
• Disaster recovery coordination
• Engage with external auditors (Deloitte) to ensure that the controls work is positively reflected in their audit plans.
• Develop an appropriate culture for the financial control environment throughout the business
What Key Performance Indicators will be measured to evaluate success?
• Quarterly Whitbread Controls Steering Group, minutes and actions issued
• Monthly systems controls pack /SAR reviews /SoD reviews
• Fraud FCF & Fraud Risk Register
• Disaster recovery procedures for Financial Reporting
• Quarterly FCF review process
• Ensuring the FCF control points are improved YOY
• Ensuring the impact of Internal and External Audit actions are reflected in the FCF
Knowledge (Expert understanding)
Skills (Expert ability)
Experience (Proven expertise)
Essential:
• Excellent academics -preferably with a degree from a leading university
• Part Qualified in ACCA/ CIMA or
ACA
• A broad understanding of business processes, evaluating risks and designing and implementing controls
• Knowledge of control frameworks i.e. COSO
Essential:
• Rounded technical skills - expertise across a range of accounting and financial areas ·
• Analytical rigour – a structured, methodical and broad-minded approach to business analysis. ·
• Excellent Interpersonal skills and a confident manner
• Organised, disciplined and results driven ·
• Challenging others – confident in challenging others, whilst maintaining a strong, professional relationship
Essential:
• Broad commercial experience,
understanding end to end business
processes
• Understanding of fraud mitigation
and control processes
Desirable:
• Presentation skills and dealing
with non-finance people on a
regular basis
• ERP system knowledge e.g.
Oracle
Desirable:
• Strong excel skills
Desirable:
• Dealing with auditors
• Leisure sector
• Design, implementation & testing of
internal controls
Signed:
Date:
Recruitment Brief To be completed at the point of recruitment. The purpose of this section is to capture the talent needs of your team at a moment in time, and to inform the advert content. This section will need updating each time you recruit to capture any differing requirements.
What other job titles does this role have in other businesses?
N/A
What job titles might your target talent currently have?
Controls Analyst
If your target talent was considering your vacancy alongside other, similar ones, why should they choose yours?
You will be joining a large, expert financial control function where you will have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of stakeholders.
What is the work, or project, that this role will deliver this year that adds most value to Whitbread’s strategy?
Whitbread has a big growth strategy, and our Finance function is critical to ensuring the very best investment decisions and returns for our shareholders. By sourcing the best talent to join our team you will directly enable the delivery of our expansion.
In your team, or function, what are the cultural moments of truth that will appeal to your target talent?
Our Finance team has a strong wellbeing strategy, with dedicated Mental Health first aiders and commitments to supporting each other to achieve a fulfilling work/life balance. We have many workstreams that you can join including diversity and inclusion, the gender equality network and communications to name a few.
Based on your current team and requirements, what are the characteristics you are looking for in a new starter to add to your team; culturally and skill wise.
I need someone who is very motivated to undertake the role and keen to lean the Whitbread controls environment and make recommended improvements. I need someone who is agile and quick to change as our environment is very dynamic. They need to be good at managing stakeholder relationships and ok to challenge when needed.
Are there any of the requirements listed as essential, that right now you could train in if a candidate was high potential?
Knowledge of the COSO frame work and Fraud controls.
Glossary If you have used any abbreviations or technical acronyms in your Job Description, please describe them here
N/A