​Job Title: Financial Controller

Reporting Line: Directly To The COO

Sector: Data Centre Construction

Location: Milan, Italy

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Role Overview:

This position is focused on establishing the accounting function in Italy, taking ownership of all accounting activities, ensuring timely reporting, maintaining accuracy, and building a finance team as the entity expands. The role is a for an international market leading main contractor who specialise in building data centres and other mission critical industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement and manage finance processes, accounting, and reporting for the Italian entity.

• Act as the primary contact for all accounting and tax matters, including monthly VAT returns, withholding tax, and other statutory obligations.

• Oversee all accounting operations and transactions, including accounts receivable and payable, subcontractor invoices, fixed assets, bank reconciliations, and general ledger entries.

• Collaborate on the ongoing enhancement and optimization of accounting processes.

• Prepare financial statements and disclosures in line with UK GAAP and local GAAP requirements.

• Perform daily bank reconciliations and manage all payments, ensuring that all documentation is complete and approved.

• Maintain the fixed asset register within the ERP system and post depreciation.

• Work with the payroll provider to process payroll journals, verify payroll reconciliations, and ensure timely tax and statutory payments.

• Reconcile intercompany balances within the international group, manage intercompany recharges, and process related invoices.

• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations and ensure appropriate accruals and prepayments are posted in the ERP system.

• Review ledgers for aged and credit balances to ensure accuracy and up-to-date records.

• Produce monthly management accounts and group reporting in accordance with the group finance calendar.

• Partner with the COO to develop the annual budget, five-year plan, update monthly forecasts, prepare the board pack, and present at board meetings.

• Work with the commercial team to monitor project profitability and ensure costs are allocated to the correct projects.

• Calculate accrued and deferred income and costs for projects (WIP accounting using the percentage-of-completion method).

• Undertake other ad hoc financial tasks as required.

• As the Italian entity grows, recruit, train, and mentor a finance team to deliver high-quality financial management and accounting services.

• Prepare weekly cash flow forecasts for submission to Group Treasury.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Holds a degree or master’s in accounting; professional accounting certification is highly preferred.

• Extensive experience in construction accounting is required.

• At least 10 years of proven track record in establishing and leading finance teams; experience in startups and international organizations is a plus.

• Strong knowledge of local GAAP; familiarity with UK GAAP and IFRS is an advantage.

• Experience with Business Central ERP is desirable.

• Exceptional leadership, team management, and communication abilities.

• Fully fluent in both written and spoken English and Italian.