Retail Finance Controller

Retail Finance Controller (Fixed Term Contract)

Role Introduction:

Established in 1992, Applegreen is a leading convenience roadside retailer in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US in both large-scale Motorway Service Areas and Travel Plazas, as well as smaller petrol stations. The business has grown to over €4BN in annual revenue, operating 450 Motorway Service Plazas and forecourt sites internationally and employing over 17,000 people.

Head of Retail Finance is responsible for core finance deliverables of ensuring financial results are robust and accurate for entire business for ROI across Fuel, Store, Food and Franchise business (M&S). This role will form part of the ROI Finance Leadership Team and reports to the Finance Director ROI.

This is very much a hands-on leadership role and will cover all aspects of the ROI Operations. As such candidates need to be comfortable working with multiple stakeholders over all aspects of the business. The role will have 3 direct reports and an overall team of 10 including working closely with our SSC partners in India.

This is a specified purpose contracted for the purpose of Maternity Cover

Key Responsibilities:

As Applegreen expands, the responsibilities will evolve and change over time. The core responsibilities will centre around the following areas:

Financial and Business Support

• Management and coordination of Monthly management accounts close tasks on supporting systems and SAP4 HANA for ROI and NI business.
• Management and coordination of GL postings and communication of any adjustments to senior managers in the business.
• Management of period end close to ensure SAP best practice is applied for postings to GL and ensuring all required reconciliations are in place.
• Lead preparation of balance sheet reconciliations and follow-up action points agreed with Financial Controller.
• Identification and mitigation of risks to the business and reported numbers.
• Lead the preparation of detailed, accurate, insightful margin analysis, costs control and commercial insight to operational and senior management.
• Lead cost reviews and analysis to support reducing operational costs.
• Lead financial reporting to Head of Operations and attendance at monthly Operational Review Meetings (ORM) working closely with Commercial and Operational Teams as required for all aspects of ROI Operations.
• Analyse past results, perform variance analysis, identify trends, and make recommendations for improvements

Governance, Policies and Procedures

• Review of key accounts and judgement areas with Financial Controller to ensure reporting numbers are robust and reliable, ensuring no surprises in reported numbers
• Enforce the business policy and procedures are enforced and completion with team of any ICFR reporting and Financial Basics with the Financial Controller.

Budgets & Reporting

• Support the annual budgeting process with the Finance Director and Commercial Controller as required in the completion of budget templates and loading to SAP.
• Ensure reporting against budget is robust and aligned with SAP and management reporting tools.

Team Management

• Manage a large team and ensure coordination and alignment with wider ROI Finance Team and Group Finance and Consolidation Teams for month end reporting.
• Working as part of the Irish Finance Leadership team to ensure an aligned approach across all Finance Deliverables.

Projects and Ad hoc

• Provide support for Financial Controller in completion of internal and external audit.
• Provide ongoing support to IT Teams and SAP COE and maintain the financial infrastructure to ensure smooth business operations.
• Identify and drive process improvements, including the creation of standard and ad-hoc reports within SAP, Oracle EPM and Excel dashboards to support business insight.
• Assist with the roll out of our new POS system and ensure all sales, payments and store financials reconcile. Work closely with the Project team, Operations, the test team.

The Candidate should have the following:

Qualifications, experience & skills

• An accountancy qualification (ACA, CIMA or ACCA) with significant PQE in a similar role. SAP experience or similar is preferable, managing large teams in a dynamic fast paced environment.

Additional key skills & attributes:

• A dynamic individual who adapts well to change and can thrive in a rapidly growing organisation that continues to evolve.
• Proven track record of delivering to tight deadlines.
• A highly organised individual with ability to plan and prioritise workloads effectively for maximum impact and adapt around changing priorities as required.
• Ability to execute directly at high quality and pace.
• Excellent drive, enthusiasm and commitment and a keen interest in developing a career in Applegreen.
• A ‘can do’ attitude and a positive solution focused mindset.
• Demonstrate strong analytical capability to interpret and challenge data and to interrogate financial systems.
• Has strong commercial acumen and a focus on delivering value to the business.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and ability to engage and develop relationships with individuals at all levels of the organisation.
• Be a self-starter and also be able to work collaboratively as a member of a highly interdependent team across many parts of Applegreen.
• Is resilient and calm under pressure.
• Has sound judgement and objective logical decision-making skills.
• Has strong leadership potential and management skills, who will be a role model for the people and culture at Applegreen.
• Willing to travel ad hoc if required.
• Knows what good looks like.

Illustrative Application & Screening Process (subject to change):

Application Process:

• Please submit an up-to-date tailored CV (max 2 pages) and cover letter by the 20thof January 2026

Interview & Selection Process:

• Two interview rounds will be required for this role