International. Sport-passionate. Collaborative team members. Stronger together through our driving force to bring people together through sports to make wellbeing accessible for all. 

At Decathlon UK, we offer Careers That Let You Play. As part of the DECATHLON Group, one of the world's largest sports retailers headquartered in France, we specialise in creating and distributing sports products through online and physical stores across 56 countries with over 1,700 locations. With over 40+ stores in the UK, our mission is to be the spirited champion of sports and healthier living in the nation!

About the role 

As an Internal Control Specialist (UK), you will play a pivotal role in embedding a strong compliance culture, evaluating operational and financial risks, and enhancing our internal control framework across the UK. You will oversee the design, implementation, and review of Level 2 internal controls across key operational, tax, and financial procedures. Working alongside key process owners in Legal, Tax, and Financial Reporting, you will align internal controls with HMRC mandates, SAPIN II compliance, IFRS/UK GAAP standards, and broader UK regulatory requirements.

In this position, you will work in close partnership with Group Internal Control, external auditors, and senior cross-functional leaders.

This opportunity is well suited for a driven audit professional who is part-qualified or a finalist (e.g., ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CIA, or equivalent). Strong verbal communication skills, confidence in assertiveness, and meticulous attention to detail are essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Internal Control & Governance

• Drive Culture & Competencies: Train, guide, and support local business leaders and finance teams on internal control concepts, Group delegation of authority, and risk management best practices.

• Group Network & Alignment: Act as the primary UK point of contact for Group Internal Control, sharing best practices, driving alignment, and participating in global control initiatives.

• Tax Governance & Compliance: Serve as the internal lead for UK tax governance, overseeing overall tax compliance and coordinating Corporate Tax (CT) deliverables in partnership with external advisors.

• Financial Reporting & Compliance Review: Oversee and review financial statement disclosures and accounting treatments to ensure alignment with Group policies, IFRS, and UK GAAP standards.

 Risk & Control Evaluation

• Risk & Control Matrix (RCM): Maintain and update the UK Risk & Control Matrix (RCM) at least annually, performing gap analyses and designing cost-effective, high-impact mitigating controls.

• Level 2 Control Execution: Plan and execute Level 2 operational and compliance control testing across core business cycles (including Financial Accounting, VAT/Tax, Customs, Procurement, SAPIN II Anti-Corruption, and Retail Store Cash & Inventory management).

• Audit Coordination & Remediation: Act as the primary liaison for internal and external audits (e.g., Group Audit, PwC), driving the remediation of audit findings and tracking action plans to resolve Management Letter points.

• Compliance Self-Assessments: Facilitate local management self-evaluations via Group compliance tools (autodiag), driving high completion rates and monitoring corrective action plans.

 Process Mapping & Improvement

• End-to-End Documentation: Map and maintain core operational and financial workflows, updating standard operating procedures to develop and maintain a comprehensive UK Accounting Procedures Guide.

• Process Optimization & Automation: Identify opportunities to streamline and standardize business processes, prioritizing automated and preventive controls over manual, detective controls.

• Special Projects Lead: Embed internal control principles and regulatory requirements into cross-functional business initiatives, including logistics, e-commerce enhancements, and major system integrations.

 Incident & Deficiency Management

• Deficiency Escalation: Identify and promptly report significant internal control gaps or compliance failures to the UK CFO and Group Internal Control leadership.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Collaborate closely with IT, Legal, Supply Chain, Logistics, and the Fraud Lead to foster a proactive, integrated approach to risk mitigation.

Who you are

• You have at least 3 years of experience in internal audit, internal control, or external audit (preferably from a Big 4 or top-tier accounting firm) within a retail, FMCG, or commercial setting.

• You are a part-qualified or fully qualified accountant or auditor (ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CIA, or equivalent). If part-qualified, you are actively studying toward full qualification.

• You have practical knowledge of UK GAAP/IFRS standards, UK VAT, Customs processes, and UK corporate governance requirements.

• You have a proven track record of designing, implementing, and embedding policies and controls through a strong combination of technical skill and leadership.

• You have strong critical thinking skills with a meticulous eye for detail, process flow optimization, and risk identification.

• You are able to objectively evaluate systems, constructively challenge existing workflows, and advocate for best-practice solutions.

• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence and align cross-functional leaders.

• You are practical, hands-on, and solution-oriented in your approach to resolving control gaps and driving change.

• You are legally eligible to work in the UK and able to provide valid proof of right-to-work documentation upon request.

If you’re someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, a career at Decathlon could be a great fit. Our welcoming culture, rooted in values of vitality, responsibility, generosity, and authenticity—and brought together by a shared passion for sports—offers a truly enriching experience for everyone.

Get to enjoy the following benefits and perks:

• Get to enjoy the following benefits and perks:

• Healthy discounts on all Decathlon goodies

• Fun weekly Staff Sports/Activities

• Pedal your way to work with the Cycle-to-Work Scheme

• Dive into top-notch training at Decathlon Academy

• Dive into hundreds of discount vouchers (think groceries, travel, shopping, and more!) with our discount hub developed by SmartSpending!

… and many more