Joshua Mills

The Multiplayer Group Ltd - Financial Controller (Mar'24-current):

• Promoted to FC of The Multiplayer Group Ltd, a £38m annual revenue game development Keywords studio, following strong performance at Laced Music Ltd.
• Played a key role in stabilising the finance function during its post-acquisition year and integrating the business into the wider group.
• Designed and implemented core finance processes, built strong cross-functional relationships, and provided leadership through the complexities of post-acquisition integration.
• Recently assumed additional responsibility as second-in-command to the UK Create Service Line Financial Controller, supporting strategic and financial oversight across multiple studios.

Laced Music Ltd - Financial Controller (May'23-Mar'24):

• Initially appointed as FC of Laced Music Ltd, a £4.5m annual revenue e-commerce Keywords studio.
• Implemented a transformation of revenue recognition processes to full IFRS 15 compliance — resolving longstanding challenges that had defeated my predecessors.
• Overhauled the royalties direct cost accrual process to improve efficiency, accuracy, and auditability.
• Identified historical non-compliance with US sales tax regulations due to exceeded economic nexus thresholds; independently led end-to-end remediation project, including vendor selection, negotiation of vendor pricing, and successful implementation of a compliant US sales tax filing process.

Current core responsibilities include:

• Ownership of annual budgeting, monthly forecasting and cash flow forecasting.
• Overseeing the month-end close process and presenting financial results to key stakeholders in the group.
• OPEX budget tracking and business partnering with all departments in the studio.
• Ensuring all tax affairs are compliant across jurisdictions, including managing VAT, corporation tax, and overseeing the successful application for VGTR and R&D tax credits.
• Gross profit analysis by project.
• UK statutory accounts team member - preparing statutory accounts for 8 UK group entities.
• Management and supervision of a management accountant

• Sole Finance Manager for a £58m PE-backed retail group, reporting to the Finance Director and line managing a team of five.
• Oversaw the month-end close process; produced monthly management accounts consolidated across multiple entities; compiled board packs, including financial commentary, for directors and private equity owners.
• Delivered weekly financial analysis on UK and international catalogue performance to senior management.
• Managed UK and international tax compliance, including VAT (UK, Germany, France), UK corporation tax, Australian GST, and US sales tax.
• Provided ad hoc financial analysis for the CEO and department heads to support strategic decision-making.
• Led the statutory audit process and manually prepared a 10-entity group consolidation with supporting disclosures.
• Member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to cross-functional business improvements.
• Led recruitment within the finance team, from role scoping to onboarding.
• Independently managed the implementation of a new accounting system, including provider selection, demonstrations, fee negotiation, and business case proposal to the CEO; delivered the full implementation with support from Oracle NetSuite.

• Joined as a trainee while studying for the ICAEW ACA qualification, gaining experience in both accounts preparation and audit functions across a range of clients.
• In the first 18 months, focused on statutory accounts preparation, management accounts, and corporation tax computations, building a solid foundation in financial reporting and regulatory compliance.
• Transitioned into the audit team, spending two years delivering end-to-end audit assignments across sectors including hospitality, manufacturing, construction, consultancy, property development, and charities & schools (UK GAAP and Charity SORP).
• Client size: Up to £4m annual turnover as audit senior; up to £24m as part of the engagement team.
• Main responsibilities included leading planning meetings, executing audit fieldwork, performing substantive and controls testing, preparing audit files, and liaising directly with clients to resolve queries and present findings.
• Additional responsibilities: conducting internal audits of schools and independent examinations of charities; mentoring new starters through the “buddy” programme; organising charity fundraising events, office socials, and sports sweepstakes as a social representative.