Head-quartered in Glasgow, our client has seen significant growth in recent years. New initiatives and the development of new routes to market have seen excellent financial results and a significant increase in headcount across the organisation.

Due to this rapid expansion, the company is looking to expand its finance team by appointing a new role that will support the business in establishing a culture where decision making is underpinned by data and analysis. This is a key position and will lead a small team of accountants responsible for leading the business financial planning process and providing financial information and commercial support to multiple senior stakeholders across the business.

Reporting directly to the Finance Director and sitting alongside the Financial Controller, it is a broad and highly visible role requiring an individual of the highest calibre with exceptional communication skills, analytical prowess, business acumen and gravitas.

The Role

The Head of Financial Planning and Analysis is a key member of the senior team and will lead a small team of accountants which is expected to grow as the business expands.

Reporting to the Finance Director, the position incorporates a blend of management reporting, financial analysis and staff supervision requiring interaction with senior managers and members of the Board. The role will sit alongside the Financial Controller who has full responsibility for managing the financial back-office and financial ledgers, managing the financial internal control environment and managing the external reporting and audit agenda.

The main duties and responsibilities are as follows:

• Work alongside the Financial Controller to co-ordinate, review and present the monthly reporting, annual budget, monthly reforecast and multi-year business plans
• Prepare the commentary on the monthly reporting and forecast pack for submission to senior management and the Board including identification of risk and opportunities
• Lead the production of various scorecards and KPI reports across the business ensuring that there is ‘one version of the truth’
• Work with the Financial Controller, senior stakeholders and the IT team to identify and implement improvements and enhancements to the management information systems across the business
• Develop and produce the reporting suites which provide comprehensive financial information to meet the requirements of senior stakeholders across the business
• Address business issues creatively and constructively in order to support the development of new revenue streams, areas for efficiency and the cessation of non-value added activities
• Manage and develop a team of accountants in the FP&A team
• Work with the Finance Director and the Financial Controller to develop and implement the Finance vision for the business and provide leadership to an expanding, inexperienced team

The Individual

The position incorporates a blend of responsibilities requiring a confident individual with strong technical, analytical and interpersonal ability. It is essential that the individual comes from a large firm/business background where they will be experienced in the reporting, analytical and control requirements of a large company. It is likely that the individual will be CA/ACA qualified and, ideally, have trained with a Big 4 accountancy practice. However, the nature of the role may also lend itself to candidates who have trained CIMA or ACCA within an industry environment.
Certainly, it is essential that candidates are able to demonstrate confidence, resilience, self-motivation and an ability to communicate with stakeholders at all levels across the business. In addition, significant experience and interest in finance and business intelligence systems, coupled with advanced Excel skills, are essential.

A summary of the key candidate requirements are as follows:

• CA/ACA/CIMA/ACCA qualified with appropriate post-qualification experience
• Experience of strategic planning and preparation of annual budgets
• Excellent analytical and communications skills combined with business acumen, pragmatism and a good sense of diplomacy
• Acts and thinks corporately with a collaborative style that empowers others
• A lateral thinker, able to manage effectively in a complex and multi-disciplined organisation
• Highly developed oral, written and presentation skills
• Motivated and not easily discouraged. Resilient
• Excellent IT skills including MS office, specifically MS Excel, and good working knowledge of accounting systems in a large organisation
• A strong team player, committed to establishing mutually beneficial relationships across the peer group
• A commitment to Continuous Professional Development

Remuneration

In addition to a generous salary of £50,000 - £60,000 per annum, the company also a number of other excellent benefits including a bonus up to 30% of salary, non-contributory pension and private healthcare (family).

What To Do Next

To apply or for a confidential discussion, please contact our retained advisor Mark Lewis at Rutherford Cross. Please note that any direct or third party applications will be passed to Rutherford Cross for review and assessment.