Head of Finance
The opportunity
We are a flourishing and ambitious owner-led SME based in Cheltenham and we are on the lookout for our new number one person in Finance, reporting into the Managing Director.
This role covers the full spectrum of finance; acting as a vital sounding board to the Directors and being a pivotal member of the senior leadership team.
You'll be hands on but also strategically aware – someone comfortable getting down into the weeds where required but also someone with the commercial awareness and confidence to influence business direction and who embodies key tactical & strategic decision making skills.
You'll be responsible for overhauling the existing financial controls and embedding valuable MI. You'll be all over budgets, forecasts, project costing, cash management... you'll have a vital finger on the pulse of the cost trends, project progress, cash forecast and margin / profit drivers. You'll also manage relationships with key external stakeholders (banks / auditors / insurers etc).
We have a small internal finance team and it will be your responsibility to lead and support them- helping set team goals and direction as well as coaching and feeding back to individuals on a 1-2-1 basis.
This is a varied, rewarding and secure Head of Finance role within a welcoming and interesting group of privately held businesses. You'll enjoy plenty of autonomy and will be working for an approachable and dynamic Director group.
Key responsibilities as a Finance Director include:
- Reporting to the MD, you will use your commercial acumen and exceptional finance skills to control the finance function of our group of companies.
- Responsible for all financial matters and establish company-wide financial objectives, targets, and develop budgets
- Developing a finance dashboard to report the key drivers to senior management in the business, as well as providing strategic advice to the Director team
- Preparation of monthly management accounts pack and associated commentary in a timely manner
- Managing the development and training of the finance team, providing support where needed
- Forecasting and managing cash positions across the business
- The preparation of annual budgets that include Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, Cash Forecast, various other summaries as required and full supporting schedules.
- Ensuring robust financial controls, processes and procedures are in place and operating to the highest possible standards
- Produce monthly statistics, reporting on key performance indicators.
- Overall responsibility to ensure all statutory deadlines and payments are adhered to (VAT, CT, PAYE etc)
- Liaising directly with external stakeholders and accountants and dealing with any queries
Who we are looking for..
For us, team fit is as important as core skillset. we believe a successful candidate for this role would likely be:
- A self starter- plenty ‘get up and go', driven to motivate themselves and their team
- A great communicator- flexing their style depending on their audience and the message they are delivering
- Strong emotional intelligence- ability to ‘read a room' and get the best out of people
- Confident leadership ability with an inclusive approach
- Super detail focussed, laser accurate and willingness to challenge and hold people accountable
- Someone who welcomes feedback and thrives on self reflection
- Positive energy, enthusiasm and persistence
- Someone who prioritises learning and development and champions opportunity for themselves and others
- Someone with the want to both get ‘stuck in' and remain strategic, balancing the two with positive results
Essential key experience & skills
- Qualified or part qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)
- Experience as number 1 or FC level in finance for a diverse and reasonably complex SME
- Leadership and management experience, coaching experience desirable
- Previous experience of ensuring cash is well managed and robust controls are in place to ensure budgets, forecasts and variance reporting is accurate and insightful
- Excellent proficiency with Excel and accounting software packages.
- Strong all-round finance and business experience.
A bit about us...
We're a family run group of businesses specialising in commercial interiors. Since 1993, our team has continued to grow, develop, work hard and innovate together.
In 2022 in were certified as a Great Place to Work™ after our fab team gave positive experience feedback, based on our company culture, perks, support and values. Our staff will always be our priority and this certification allows us access to insights, analytics and workshops to continue to develop our people strategy.
What's in it for you?
Aside getting to spend time with a group of awesome people, you will have access to an excellent employee benefits program because we believe that a great process starts with great people. We recognise and reward our brilliant team with perks that include (but are by no means limited to):
Structured and supported professional development programs
Christmas and summer socials (with lots of fun in between!)
Enhanced maternity/paternity packages
Flexible working environments across multiple sites
Access to Bupa Employee Assistance Program
Great Place to Work™ certified company
? Annual charity events
The practical stuff
This is a full time role, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Salary bracket: £75,000-£85,000
Interested or know someone who may be? Please contact to find out more (there's a referral reward in it for you too!).