Head of Finance

Salary: £75,347 per year

We are recruiting for a newly created role for a Head of Finance to join a manufacturing business based in Telford. The business has enjoyed growth over the last few years and resided in a purpose-built state of the art manufacturing site. Their growth in the UK over the past few years has meant the business needs a high calibre Head of Finance to join the Senior Management Team (SMT).

 The Role

 Reporting directly to the Managing Director and working with the SMT, you will be instrumental in developing and implementing strategic and operational projects to help drive continuous improvements within site. As Head of Finance, you will provide management information and analysis to the stakeholders to enable decision making and actionable objectives to help drive improvements. You will be instrumental in ensuring financial performance is in line with the strategic goals, and that opportunities, as well as the risks, are communicated ensuring a coordinated approach to deliver the Company future strategy. You will also oversee the finance function, ensuring timely reporting of the management accounts, financial reporting and ensuring robust financial controls and disciplines are in place within the businesses.

 As Head of Finance, you will be an integral part of the senior management team to find solutions to critical issues and manage the relationship with external parties.

 As the successful candidate, you will have the necessary leadership skills to lead and manage the finance team to deliver the Management Information as well as the commercial and operational skills to support the internal stakeholders. Challenging the status quo, seeking out the best way forward and help make the necessary changes to ensure best practice is achieved within the business.

 As Head of Finance, your responsibilities will include:

Strategic Direction Execute the company’s financial strategy for the site;
Finance Control and Reporting Fully responsible for the control and reporting of the manufacturing business and operations, maintaining robust and timely financial reporting, review of monthly accounts and management information and ensuring all day to day accounting is completed accurately;
Finance Performance Preparation of management information to the Board and SMT to ensure full transparency to the Board on the site’s financial performance Together with effectively communicating potential opportunities and risks promptly;
Staff Management and Leadership for a team of multi-discipline finance and support staff. Responsible for the recruitment, performance and development of all the financial accounting staff, ensuring personal development plans and training needs are recognised;
Operational Excellence Take a proactive role with operational management on commercial and financial matters; to identify, evaluate and propose productivity/performance improvements; to establish financial control as well as driving operational excellence in the continuous development of management reporting and dashboard of KPI reports to meet operational and strategic targets;
Finance Budgets and Strategic Plans Work closely with the SMT and be the lead for the financial delivery of the strategic plan and annual budgeting process and forecasting; proposing action plans to budget holders to ensure that yearly financial objectives are attained;
Costing Understanding the product and contract costs and expense drivers for the business; active participation in operational and commercial initiatives and assisting in the development of costing systems;
Finance Controls Ensure financial controls are regularly reviewed and in place and standardise the procedures across the site;
CashFlow Review of weekly cash-flows forecasts and reporting including working capital management;
Streamline the current Processes and Procedures and recommend improvements for accounting systems to achieve an effective internal control; Process Map the current systems;
Managing relationships with external stakeholders Managing and coordinating all the year-end processes and being the point of contact for the external auditors, tax authorities and bank relationships; including third-party funders to lead and drive business cases for grant funding;
Initiatives and Ad hoc projects working with the Managing Director and SMT on strategic and commercial initiative across the company.
The background and key attributes

ü Be a qualified accountant either ACMA/ACCA/ACA;

ü Ideally within a manufacturing environment, preferably experienced in FMCG environment;

ü Have worked as a number one finance lead;

ü Proven experience of leading and developing teams;

ü Understanding of manufacturing operational processes and relevant performance drivers;

ü Results-focused, strategic thinker, outstanding problem-solving, time management and planning skills;

ü Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, good presentation skills;

ü Continually challenges & influences key personnel to make balanced decisions for the benefit of the whole business;

ü Have a demonstrable background in developing and managing initiatives focusing on process improvements and improved efficiencies and have the ability to drive change across functional boundaries;

ü Strong drive to ensure there is continuous improvement and getting things done;

ü Have strong technical and financial reporting accounting skills;

ü Commercially astute;

ü Excellent attention to detail;

ü Be IT literate (Excel, Powerpoint, Word) with financial modelling, analysis and evaluation skills and worked extensively with ERP systems such as SAGE/SAP;

ü Confident approach with the ability to manage, interact, influence and guide, with all levels, developing and maintaining strong working relationships.

 This is an exceptional opportunity for a commercially focused finance professional to make a difference in a growing manufacturing business as Head of Finance.

 To apply for this position, candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Elevate Recruitment & Training Consultants Limited is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.