Head of Finance

Commercial Manufacturing, Sales & Service Group
c£90-100,000 plus package

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a market leading, UK division of a global manufacturing business. 

Already able to boast a reputation for class defining products with an enviable level of quality, this international business has maintained their position as a market leader for decades.

Positioned in this competitive, growth sector, they have built a strong reputation for innovation (in both service offering and product development/range) and market leading technical ability. Strong commercial and entrepreneurial passion runs through the business.

Combining the above with strong leadership, quality product innovations, a lithe strategy adept at responding to market conditions and great focus on customer service, they have employed a commercial approach to their entire organisation, constantly challenging the status quo for long-term benefit.

A key element to that growth, strategic vision, entrepreneurial drive and market positioning is the recruitment of a highly commercial Head of Finance, a UK Board level, SLT role reporting directly to the Managing Director.

The role as Finance Director is an outstanding opportunity to not only take a key role in an exciting, market defining Group, but one that offers the chance to lead a critical central-function right at the heart of the business’s performance.

Reporting to the Managing Director with a dotted line to the overseas-based EMEA Finance Lead, the Head of Finance will take a very active part on the Leadership Team and UK Board. The relationship with the MD will be critical to the onwards leadership and success of the business, as well as its culture.

The Head of Finance assumes overall control and accountability for all financial aspects of company strategy and delivery, taking responsibility for the planning, implementation and control of all financial related activities for the UK operation, supported above by the MD and Group leadership function, and beneath by the continentally-based shared service centre.

They will be fully accountable for all financial activity and tracking of the company strategy including communication and delivery for both finance and non-finance professionals, as well as input on capital expenditure/investment appraisals, commercial initiatives, and the delivery of the broader strategy to deliver ongoing stated organic growth, and as part of the senior leadership team the Head of Finance is expected to demonstrate both a strategic and an operational mindset.

They will lead, via a Finance Manager, the finance function through a small but established of just 4 plus the production control team (all transaction processing is centered in the Shared Service Centre), the coaching, development and mentoring of the local team will be of key importance, through the provision of learning and training opportunities that support development, retention and refinement of necessary skills, knowledge and expertise.

They will promote commercial understanding and develop initiatives to positively impact financial and commercial performance, and will seek to re-engineer existing practices to eliminate low or no value activities, ensuring efficient work flows.

This is a strategic leadership role, not just financial management. This is a fast-paced, high-change, customer focused business. Responding to that pace and focus and driving it, is a critical function of the finance function. The Head of Finance will provide dynamic leadership to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness of all processes, refining and re-designing where necessary; crucially whilst seeking to gain commercial advantage.

Understanding and successfully managing the finance function will be vital for the long-term success of both the role and the business – not only in helping to ensure the business continues on its commercial trajectory, but also to ensure the values, mission and vision of the organisation as it continues to be at the forefront of decision-making and strategy, along with resolute customer service and satisfaction. Strategic and operational intelligence will be critical, as will a natural solution finding demeanour.

Maximising the Financial and Commercial performance of the business will be the primary task for the Head of Finance, driving the best route to high growth and continued success.

Team development, leadership and inspiration are also critical aspects of this role. Quality of the human resource, and overall staff retention is high across the business through operational, strategic and above all, personal leadership input and direction. The business has a strong ‘team’ ethos and culture and is known as an employee engaged business. This role will be critical to that reputation as the business continues to grow.

The Head of Finance will be one of the most influential people, and personalities within the business.

The core mission of the Head of Finance is to be the overall Business Partner & advisor to the Managing Director, working closely with the Finance team and the European leadership function to take responsibility for the complete financial management, control, and reporting for the UK business, Production & Sales.

Key Responsibilities

• Transform financial data into commercial insights and actionable deliverables that support the Managing Director (MD) and Senior Leadership Team in making commercial decisions 
• Ensure financial information produced is accurate, timely and in accordance with region, & Group regulations
• Produce financial information that will facilitate challenge to all areas of the business to improve profitability 
• Oversee the administrative, financial and risk management of the UK operation
• Provide the in-house expertise on treasury, insurance, duty and tax legislation and compliance where needed
• Overall accountability for the provision of the UK payroll and benefits package, including the pension provision 
• Ensure total compliance with all relevant UK legislation
• Work in partnership with Sales and Marketing to create a robust forecasting process that delivers accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial predictions
• Embed processes and protocols that drive first class cost controls across the business
• Support the Finance Manager in managing the Finance team, developing individuals within the teams. 
• Assist in managing an effective relationship with external financial bodies e.g. auditors, banking providers and third-party financial advisors
• Challenge status quo within all areas of the business improving flexibility, responsiveness, value creation and efficiency of business through business control, financial control, and planning. Introduce change to work processes
• Leadership of local finance function. 

Core Challenges

• Management and leadership on the finance department. Direct and oversee all financial, legal, insurance and treasury activities. Establish, implement and monitor all necessary financial, controlling and general administrative processes to comply with legal and Group requirements. 
• Ensure appropriate controls and safeguards over Company assets.
• Produce monthly, quarterly and year-end reporting packages including analysis and explanations of major deviations versus plan and prior year figures. Ensure rigorous financial planning and control and provide risk management and working capital management for the business. 
• Proactively provide strategic financial advice and input, with and without being asked to do so, to the UK Managing Director and the Executive Management Team and the business overall. 
• Continue the development of the Business Control / Business Partner capabilities and services of the Finance Team, assisting and leading further business improvement initiatives. Converting financial and other business data into meaningful information / business intelligence and using this information to drive further value creation and efficiency / effectiveness initiatives. 
• Lead the Finance Department to maintain a close and interactive relationship with all Departmental Managers and specifically with the Sales Team to meet customer demands e.g. during the negotiation phase of Service Level Agreements with target National Accounts. 
• Lead the Finance Department to challenge locally the status quo and seek to continuously improve flexibility, responsiveness and efficiency of the business through financial control and planning. Introduce and champion new and innovative work processes and associated KPIs. 
• Support the Finance Manager, Management Accountant and other members of the Finance Department to develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to reach their full potential, whilst encouraging team work within the Department. 
• Manage an effective relationship with external financial bodies e.g. auditors, banking providers and third party financial advisors. 
• Drive and take ownership of the Finance function with a key focus of improving performance of the recently implemented ERP system (SAP) and take responsibility for the accuracy of the data in the system. 
• In conjunction with Group Finance, work with the business to set annual budgets that meet Regional & Group requirements. 

The Person

This is a high-profile leadership position as the individual responsible for the business’s Financial and Commercial performance. The appointee will have a proven Finance Leadership background within a Manufacturing and Service business, leading a dynamic, commercial finance function. They will have experience on sitting on a strategic leadership team.

The appointee will already possess ‘Corporate’ experience, and as a component of that know what good structure, robust processes and sound financial rigour looks like, but they will also have had exposure to smaller, more lithe organisations, bringing in the broader commerciality of a smaller business and operating in an entrepreneurial environment. 

He/she will possess excellent interpersonal skills, be adept at mixing strategic planning & direction whilst retaining a hands-on capability, possessing strong process management abilities, and be a robust decision-maker and a ‘finisher’. The role involves providing strategic and operational leadership as well as practical support not only to the Commercial and Finance functions, but also to the business as a whole.

The successful candidate will have strong influencing skills and be able to put across his or her ideas and views clearly to both peers, team members and the fellow members of the Leadership Team. In addition, he/she will have strong communication skills and be capable of liaising with a broad cross-section of departments, skillsets and capability levels to discuss all financial matters, particularly to assist the compilation of, and adherence to budgets.The appointee will exude enthusiasm and demonstrate an outstanding work ethic – this is a culture where hard work is expected, celebrated and rewarded. They will be constantly questioning those above and below them, but more importantly, constantly questioning (and challenging) themselves….…..but the appointee will have gravitas. It will be immediately obvious to all around them why they have been selected and appointed. They will have the behavioural and technical skills to earn and retain respect.

Alongside their astute leadership capabilities, they will be an ‘action’ style manager. Their attention to detail will be second to none, and will be contagious. They will never see themselves as ‘too big’ for any task within the department, and will gain huge satisfaction from developing the team in every regard, form and function.

Person Spec:

• Senior level team leadership exposure within a Commercial Finance Function
• Professionally qualified (ACA, ACMA or ACCA) with significant financial and team management experience, including coaching and development, and experience of acting in a ‘number one’ finance leadership role.
• Ability to explain financial controls and management to non-finance colleagues
• Exceptional team player with proven ability to lead through influence
• A strategic thinker and able to communicate effectively (both written and verbal).
• Adept at balancing intense short-term pressures with overall long-term goals.
• Experience presenting to and working with other senior management team members.
• Natural control orientation but with the ability to judge risk profile against commercial opportunity
• Strong executive presence, polish and commercially savvy.
• Experience at mentoring and personal development.
• Demonstrable ability to understand and simply communicate complex concepts in a compelling, concise, and creative way.
• Measured, but fun and dynamic in their management style, instilling a co-operative, high-energy, motivated team-oriented culture.
• SAP exposure would be a significant advantage

Competencies/Behaviours:

• Operates within a leadership framework and role-models leadership behaviours
• First-class commercial acumen and a real change agent.
• Strategic thinker who challenges conventional thinking and brings new commercial ideas and concepts to the table
• Strong influencer, able to actively listen, evaluate and influence a course of action that is right for the whole business
• Expert relationship builder who has the confidence, courage and conviction to confront reality, challenge others and right wrongs  
• Proven track record in a strategic leadership role
• Experience of delivering excellent results through leading and influencing a matrixed/remote team

Personal Characteristics:

• The ideal candidate will already have a reputation and track record of success as an exemplary No.1 Finance Leader – Director/Head of Finance or similar
• Bright, dynamic, and possessing superior verbal and written communication skills, the successful candidate will have the engaging personality to inspire and create excitement with their team, as well as across the entire organisation.
• The successful candidate will also be strategic and innovative with an external awareness to understand the nuances of complex processes and procedures within a regulated environment.
• Utilising a highly solution based, consultative style; Be experienced in teaching and developing their team(s) to identify and define business needs and develop innovative solutions.
• They will be a tireless, high-energy professional with an entrepreneurial flair and will possess a brand of confidence, which allows for delegation and empowerment to his/her team.
• He/she will be a team player that has experienced a broad-reaching but largely non-hierarchical structure.
• The individual must have demonstrated an ability to achieve or exceed his/her objectives while working in concert with other managers/directors. He/she must possess excellent interpersonal skills, the highest level of integrity, and be able to inspire trust and confidence.
• Finally, this executive must have a level of business maturity, flexibility and the instincts to adapt to an exciting, high-energy, dynamic environment characterised by growth expectations and a collaborative culture…..and have a sense of humour and fun at all times.

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