Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery... the stuff dreams are made of.
Who We Are...
When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next...
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
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About the Role:
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Global Networks Controller (US based - Eastern time zone), this leadership role is responsible for the overall accounting controllership of the EMEA Networks segment accounting operations. This includes managing the financial close process, leading the relevant accounting teams within the region, preparing and reviewing budgets, managing the statutory filing processes, including determining and monitoring service level of external service providers (external auditors, outsourced accounting service firms), establishing and building strong relationships with key stakeholders in the region and globally, managing the service levels to FP&A and within the shared service function (GBS) and leading new business projects, acquisition integrations and process improvements with the support and input of regional finance, GBS organization, tax and treasury.
This position exists to ensure strong controllership and accountability of financial results, statutory and regulatory compliance, an environment with robust internal controls and efficient processes, co-ordination and consolidation of accounting, tax, treasury and other finance requirements for the EMEA region.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and oversee the EMEA Networks controllership organization of approximately 80 employees located in Warsaw, Poland
- Oversight responsibilities will include, but is not limited to, ensuring all critical deadlines are met, effectively managing the EMEA Networks financial close process, ensuring complete and accurate accounting in all relevant areas, maintaining compliance with SOX requirements, preparing/reviewing and submitting departmental level budgets, analyzing financial statement results against expectations, providing career and professional development/coaching/training to staff and implementing process improvements to drive operational efficiencies and effectiveness
- Leading the EMEA networks statutory filing process (approximately 75-80 legal entities per year across 18 countries), including the preparation and review of statutory financial statements and serving as the Senior Accounting Officer where applicable
- Managing and working directly with the external auditors, local authorities, outsourced accounting resources, and WBD management to ensure compliance with statutory filing obligations
- Ensuring local tax filing needs and accounting requirements are maintained and compliant
- Engage with and maintain strong relationships with key EMEA stakeholders, including EMEA Studio and Direct-To- Consumer Controllers, CFO EMEA, FP&A, shared service functions (GBS), country specific business leader, and effectively manage service level agreements
- Ensure a robust understanding of the EMEA business in core operating sectors and provide responsive consultation and information as required in key business decisions. Be the central / key connection point between business and Networks accounting and facilitate information requirements and process efficiency
- Provide leadership and management of key system and process integrations in the EMEA controllership area, including leading through acquisitions and/or divestments from a finance perspective. Identify issues timely and propose solutions to ensure project success
- Frequently assess current accounting operations, offering recommendations for improvements and implementing approved new processes. Specific areas of focus to include, but not limited to:
- Effectively manage the impacts to the EMEA networks accounting systems and processes related to large ERP implementation projects
- Support key accounting (global) projects (e.g., implementation of new accounting standards, reorganizations, process improvements for EMEA Networks)
- Perform multiple various other responsibilities, to include, but not limited to:
- Understand and support the EMEA networks business operations and activities, to effectively identify and communicate complex accounting analysis and decisions to FP&A and business team
- Interface with tax and treasury to address business requirements and statutory reporting compliance matters
- Manage SOX compliance requirements and continuously strengthen the control environment and manage the team to 100% SOX compliance
- Support the controllership leadership team in developing the medium- and long-term vision for the controllership function for EMEA Networks
- Working closely with the Finance Leadership Team to identify key strategic and operational projects necessary to support the company's financial reporting objectives, deliver quality financial information to the business and external stakeholders on a timely basis
- Understand the impact of accounting decisions on the overall reporting process for other support functions (e.g., IT, HR, Procurement, etc.) and ensure appropriate communication of the same
- Lead and drive the effective implementation of corporate policies and procedures and be the owner of business process and policy and procedure for the regional networks
- Partner with internal and external audit teams, fulfill audit requests in a timely manner and work with auditors to understand testing approach and provide timely and comprehensive information
- Ensure timely consideration and assessment of local accounting implications of business transactions and work with the Corporate Technical Accounting team to determine US GAAP accounting positions of the same
- Prepare for and/or participate in accounting/finance leadership meetings and other ad-hoc tasks as assigned
- Periodically evaluate personnel workload requirements within the EMEA Networks controllership function and recommend changes as necessary
About You:
- Extensive, relevant experience in accounting with a strong understanding of US GAAP, IFRS, SOX 404 and relevant local GAAP (e.g., Polish GAAP, UK GAAP, etc.) as required
- Extensive supervisory experience of large accounting teams. Prior Controller experience strongly desired
- CPA, Chartered Accountant (CA), or equivalent required
- BS/BA in Accounting (or local equivalent) from accredited university
- Master's degree in Accounting or MBA a plus
- Strong leadership and staff management skills, including demonstrated ability to motivate teams
- Strong finance technical and analytical skills, deep knowledge of multiple EMEA-based country statutory filing requirements, broad tax and treasury knowledge, and project management experience across a range of financial projects
- Able to work independently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, meet stringent deadlines, lead and drive projects, and work under pressure including adaptability to changing priorities and/or deadlines
- Strong understanding of a range of financial systems, including SAP, and experience in system implementation and conversion projects
- Strong understanding and experience managing the preparation and filing of statutory requirements within the EMEA region, including coordination and management of the statutory audit process
- Experience working in SOX control environment, including review and establishment of SOX control framework
- Experience working with Regional CFOs and delivering exceptional advice based on experienced business acumen
- Highly skilled and adept at performing financial statement analytics and monitoring of key business performance metrics
- Experience working in multi-national corporations and a global accounting organization
- Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and critical thinking to solve complex and unstructured business and accounting problems
- Ability to determine proper revenue recognition, including multi-element revenue agreements, revenue accruals, customer's incentives and commissions and financial impact of settlement in complex foreign currency environments
- Excellent attention to detail
- Clear communicator, professional oral and written communication skills
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, able to manage relationships effectively within the accounting team, internal customers, outsourced service providers
- Team player with consensus driven style, demonstrably able to influence a wide constituency
- A superior work ethic and a dedication to the highest work quality and job excellence
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to a culture of excellence, integrity and accountability and able to effectively function in a changing environment
- Experience implementing best practices that require significant innovation for improving processes by applying advanced understanding of complex functional/technical and business issues and challenges
- Ability to anticipate resource requirements and to make adjustments based on emerging issues and priorities
- Excellent knowledge of MS Office
- Business and conversationally fluent in English required
- Willing and able to travel, including internationally. Annual travel not expected to exceed 10-15% of the year
Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.
How We Get Things Done...
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.
If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.