Director, Controller

The Director, R&I Controller provides senior level accounting leadership and governance for the Rebates and Incentives (contra‑revenue) across a division in Europe. This role sits within the Europe Controller’s group in Mastercard Europe’s Finance division and is responsible for Rebates & Incentives for a division within Europe, including line management responsibility. The position reports to the Vice President, Europe Controlling and is based in London. The role oversees the timely and accurate accounting treatment of customer business agreements, including revenue recognition and contra-revenue considerations, in partnership with the GBSC (Shared Services Centre). It ensures compliance with applicable Mastercard policies, internal controls and US GAAP, and provides advisory support to the business and account teams on customer business agreements.

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• Lead the R&I Controller team for the division, ensuring adherence to accounting policies and procedures while providing oversight, technical accounting expertise and clear guidance to key stakeholders.
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• Oversee the quality of the full accounting process for Rebates & Incentives, ensuring timely and accurate accounting treatment across the countries in scope.
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• Provide complex accounting advice and guidance, discussing, challenging and validating accounting treatments, and communicating conclusions clearly to support consistent understanding and application by Regional Finance teams and other stakeholders.
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• Support the contract drafting process by reviewing customer business agreements to ensure contract wording enables appropriate accounting treatment in line with applicable Mastercard policies and US GAAP.
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• Lead and influence commercial deal structures and contentious accounting matters.
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• Establish governance processes that ensure controllership involvement at the design and negotiation stage of significant customer agreements and commercial initiatives.
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• Perform and review oversight controls for the R&I accounting process, including month‑end activities, application of accounting treatment for signed business agreements, quarterly reporting deliverables for Corporate, and monthly rebate and incentive reconciliations, while ensuring internal and external audit compliance, SOX compliance and appropriate process documentation.
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• Lead regional projects to strengthen stakeholder support, improve operational efficiency, enhance reporting accuracy and reinforce adherence to accounting policies.
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• Develop and lead a high‑performing R&I Controller team, building team capability, fostering collaboration and accountability.
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• Strategic business partnering and executive stakeholder management, acting as the senior controllership voice for the division and presenting to senior leadership within and outside of finance.
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• Maintain close alignment with Corporate Controllership team, advising on policy enhancements, implementing sustainable and compliant processes in division as well as the region.
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• Drive Europe Region‑wide process improvement, not only at a divisional level, in collaboration with the Controllership team.
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• University degree or equivalent professional experience.
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• Qualified accountant, such as ACA, ACCA or CPA.
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• Controllership experience, preferably in a multinational environment.
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• Strong technical accounting experience, with the ability to evaluate revenue contracts from a technical accounting perspective. US GAAP experience is preferred, and IFRS knowledge is advantageous.
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• Strong knowledge of Internal Controls concepts and Sarbanes–Oxley regulations.
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• Proficiency with accounting & finance systems/software applications.
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• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with a strong sense of ownership, initiative and urgency.
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• Ability to work through ambiguity and complex issues, bringing clarity and practical guidance to stakeholders.
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• Strong ability to influence across Finance and business leadership teams.
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• Drive continual process improvement agenda, demonstrated ability in challenging and improving processes.
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• Demonstrated business acumen with the ability to provide solutions that drive positive results.
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