Global Lease Controller

Job Description

At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], we are a leading veterinary services provider in Europe and North America with more than 2,500 clinics and hospitals across 19 countries and around 42,000 employees. We aim to have an extraordinary impact on animal lives, supporting in the region of 25,000 animals every single day across our international network. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] exists to champion the long-term health and welfare of animals and deliver our purpose of Healthy Animals, Happy Owners.

The Global Lease Controller provides senior leadership and oversight of the organisation’s global lease portfolio, ensuring strong financial governance, commercial discipline, and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions.

The role acts as the executive point of accountability for lease related financial stewardship, supporting investment decision making, protecting balance sheet integrity, and strengthening confidence in lease reporting and controls across the Group.

This role is also available on an Interim, Fixed Term Contract basis (3-6 Months) if this was preferable.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Global Lease Portfolio Leadership - Provide enterprise level leadership of all lease related activity across global jurisdictions, ensuring consistent governance, clear ownership of end-to-end lease processes, and effective control throughout the full lease lifecycle.
• Strategic Advisory & Decision Support - Partner with executive and functional leadership to shape and influence lease vs buy decisions, providing clear insight into financial, balance sheet, and commercial implications aligned to wider business strategy.
• Financial Compliance & Stewardship - Hold accountability for compliance with relevant accounting standards (including IFRS 16) and local GAAP requirements, ensuring accurate balance sheet recognition and high-quality lease related disclosures across the Group.
• Asset & Liability Oversight - Oversee the identification, measurement, and ongoing management of right of use assets and corresponding lease liabilities, ensuring integrity of valuation, remeasurement, and lifecycle management at a global level.
• Audit, Risk & Control Leadership - Own the relationship with internal and external audit for lease related matters, ensuring audit readiness, timely resolution of issues, and effective mitigation of financial and control risk.
• Commercial & Contract Governance - Provide senior oversight of lease contract governance, ensuring effective management and communication to the lease accounting team of key commercial terms and actions including rent reviews, escalations, renewals, modifications, and terminations, in partnership with Property, Legal, and Procurement leadership.
• Performance, Controls & Continuous Improvement - Own global lease process KPIs, ensuring required targets are met, processes are followed and controls are effective and complete. Identify systemic risks or areas of underperformance, sponsor corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, scalability, and control.
• Leadership & Capability Building - Lead, develop, and influence global and regional teams involved in lease activities, building capability, accountability, and consistency through clear expectations, governance frameworks and performance management.

Experience/Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post qualification experience
• Significant senior level experience in finance leadership, with accountability for complex balance sheet areas within a large, multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction organisation.
• Proven ability to operate at enterprise level, providing leadership, direction, and governance across geographically dispersed teams and stakeholders.
• Strong background in lease accounting, governance, and reporting, including oversight of complex and high-volume lease portfolios.
• Deep understanding of lease related financial reporting requirements (including IFRS 16) and their impact on balance sheet recognition and disclosures.
• Experience overseeing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, including remeasurement, lifecycle events, and balance sheet integrity.
• Strong commercial acumen, balancing technical accounting requirements with pragmatic business outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience leading or owning internal and external audit engagement for complex financial areas, including preparation of detailed audit evidence and resolution of findings.
• Strong track record of strengthening financial controls, governance frameworks, and risk management in a global environment.
• Hands on exposure to lease accounting systems or ERP environments, with a focus on data quality, controls, and system governance.
• Track record of leading continuous improvement initiatives, including KPI development, process optimisation, and automation across global finance processes.

What We Offer

• Work-life balance
• 26 days annual leave
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
• Pension
• Discretionary Bonus
• Discounted staff pet care
• Dog Friendly office
• Free Parking available at Head Office

Additional Information

Following receipt of your application, you will be contacted by one of our experienced hire recruitment team.

As a BAME and LGBTQ+ inclusive employer, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] we are committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups.

Any questions? Contact Neil Merritt at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Location

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], The Chocolate Factory, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 2AU, United Kingdom