A Finance Production and Control Senior Lead is a pivotal senior management role within the finance function of large, complex organizations, particularly in sectors like financial services, insurance, and banking. This profession sits at the critical intersection of financial accounting, operational process management, and internal control, ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timely delivery of financial results. Professionals in these jobs are the guardians of the financial close process, overseeing the production of legal entity financial statements and managing the end-to-end workflows that underpin them. They act as the crucial bridge between strategic finance leadership and the operational teams executing daily transactions. The core responsibility of a Finance Production and Control Senior Lead is to own the financial results production lifecycle. This involves managing the monthly, quarterly, and annual close timetable, ensuring all journal entries, reconciliations, and adjustments are completed accurately and on schedule. They typically oversee a team of financial professionals, which may include both onshore and offshore resources, and are often accountable for managing third-party outsourcing providers or shared service centers. A significant part of the role is maintaining a robust financial control framework. This includes regular monitoring of balance sheet reconciliations, validating the accuracy of key financial data, and ensuring strict adherence to accounting standards such as IFRS or GAAP, as well as industry-specific regulations like Solvency II in insurance. Beyond routine closure, these senior leads are process owners and improvement drivers. They are responsible for mapping, reviewing, and optimizing end-to-end finance processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate operational risk. They frequently serve as the finance business owner for critical enterprise systems like ERP platforms (e.g., Oracle, SAP) and specialized financial applications, ensuring these tools align with the finance data strategy and control requirements. Leadership and stakeholder management are paramount; they collaborate extensively with the Finance Change team on system implementations, with internal audit on control issues, and with senior directors to report on financial performance and control effectiveness. Typical skills and requirements for these high-level jobs include being a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) with substantial post-qualification experience. Candidates must possess proven leadership experience managing finance operational or control teams. A deep understanding of financial processes and systems, coupled with a strong risk and control mindset, is essential. Experience within a heavily regulated industry is highly valued, as is the ability to manage supplier relationships and complex, cross-functional projects. Success in this profession demands a unique blend of technical accounting expertise, operational rigor, strategic thinking, and the people skills to lead teams and influence stakeholders at all levels. For finance professionals seeking a role that combines deep technical control with broad operational leadership, Finance Production and Control Senior Lead jobs offer a challenging and impactful career path at the heart of an organization's financial governance.
