Head of External Reporting
Auckland, NZ / Wellington, NZ
Business Services – Finance /
Permanent /
Hybrid
Our Purpose
At Xero, we’re here to help you supercharge your business. We do this by automating routine tasks, surfacing actionable insights and connecting businesses with the right data, advisors and apps. When that happens, we’re not only making life better for small business, we’ll be building a stronger economy that can change the world.
The Head of External Reporting is responsible for ensuring that Xero’s financial information is of the highest standard and prepared in a timely manner. The incumbent will lead a team of accountants, Xero’s technical accounting, group financial statements and audit processes. They will enjoy implementing new processes or ways of working that create efficiencies, and will have a great eye for detail. Reporting into the GM External Reporting, this role will build strong cross-functional relationships and become a trusted advisor to the business in the critical area of reporting and compliance.
What you'll do
- Develop and manage Xero’s financial reporting to respond to changes to the Group and the environment in which it operates, ensuring a rigorous process with appropriate controls
- Drafting of audit and risk committee papers as it relates to key accounting judgements
- Manage the half year, year end and foreign subsidiary financial statement processes, including project managing across the wider accounting team to ensure accurate disclosures
- Ensure that documents produced meet rapidly evolving compliance requirements, conform to the high standards of accuracy and writing quality expected for these high-profile market communications, and are produced within the tight timeframes required
- Manage the audit process, and be the key liaison with external auditors for half year review and year end audit processesManage a team of accountants who are responsible for Xero’s technical accounting, including but not limited to hedge accounting, software capitalisation, revenue recognition, leases, goodwill impairment testing, including oversight of these areas through month end activities
- Manage the program of work to ensure Xero maintains a robust control environment, including regular reporting to the internal assurance team and the audit committee
- Have a strong understanding of IFRS, with ownership of technical accounting areas, including technical accounting analysis and memo writing, providing management with conclusions, suggestion solutions and identifying risks
- Take initiative, drive change & continuous improvements across the team and wider function
- Participate in significant corporate or company-wide finance projects and initiatives as directed by the EGM - Accounting and GM - External Reporting
What you'll bring with you
- 10+ years’ experience in finance roles, either in a large corporate or big 4 accounting firm
- Strong understanding of accounting principles, standards and processes
- Appropriate qualification, for example CA or equivalent
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
- Problem solving skills and proven ability to manage multiple deliverables simultaneously
- Strong planning, organisational and self management skills
- A genuine team player who works collaboratively with and contributes to the function of a high performing team
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills in both formal and informal settings
Why Xero?
Offering very generous paid leave to use however you’d like (plus statutory holidays!), dedicated paid leave to care for your physical and mental wellbeing as well as an Employee Assistance Program to access mental health care for you and your family, free medical insurance, wellbeing and sports programmes, employee resource groups, 26 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers, an Employee Share Plan, beautiful offices, flexible working, career development, and many other benefits that reflect our human value, you’ll do the best work of your life at Xero.
