Rutherford Cross is excited to bring to market a Finance Director role with Clansman Dynamics in East Kilbride, near Glasgow.

Established in 1994, Clansman Dynamics is an employee owned heavy engineering handling equipment manufacturer for the forge and foundry industry, based in East Kilbride, Scotland. Many of those key members from start-up still form the basis of Clansman today with a combined experience in material handling in the most difficult environments.

 The company has grown steadily and organically, based on a firm set of guiding principles that include the very best engineering for maximum reliability, cautious financial management and lean operation but above all, always putting the customer first. Clansman use design skills to produce tough machines, allowing them to stand out from the crowd and highlighting their passion for seeking the best solution rather than just making profit. The creation of excellent customer relationships is fundamental to the great reputation this firm enjoys in its marketplace.

Clansman strives to remain at the forefront of competitive technology and over 90% of products are exported to 45 countries around the world into locations such as Brazil, Japan and Kazakhstan and for customers such as Volvo, Scania, John Deere, Doosan and Ferrari.

 In 2009, the business became 100% employee owned and is currently only one of around a hundred similarly structured companies in Scotland. Over the last 11 years, the business has gone from strength to strength with around 60 staff, no debt, and a solid order book and new order prospects.

Clansman Dynamics is now seeking a new Finance Director who will assist in leading the company through its next phase of growth. This role will support and report into the Managing Director, leading a small team in the head office in East Kilbride. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a vibrant and already successful business with strong future prospects, and to be part of the senior management team in a company where strong ethics and values are central to the culture.

The view is to recruit a senior Financial Controller moving into their first no.1 role, or a junior Finance Director seeking a better opportunity. With either option, it is key that the individual has the ambition, skills and experience to grow with the business over time as it develops into new markets.

The Role:

The Finance Director will be a key member of the Executive team and responsible for the following key deliverables:

• Form a close working relationship with the Managing Director and the wider Senior Leadership Team
• Lead and own the finance strategy to help optimise the company’s financial performance and commercial position
• Take overall control of the company’s accounting function
• Ensure that company financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth
• Ongoing development of the monthly board pack including the preparation and presentation of financial information, value-added commentary, KPIs and analysis to help the board understand better and improve the performance of the business
• Preparation of monthly management accounts and annual statutory accounts
• Create monthly reports to identify results, trends, and financial forecasts
• Review all financial plans and budgets regularly to look for cost reduction opportunities
• Establish and implement financial reporting systems to comply with government regulations and legislation
• Take ultimate responsibility for the company cash management policies and performance
• Form opinion and evaluate impact of technical matters/disclosure and recommend appropriate policies to senior management/audit committee
• Planning, creating and reviewing the preparation of monthly consolidated accounts and reports to the Board of Directors
• Ensure the presence of robust financial controls and risk management frameworks
• Establish a high level of credibility and manage strong working relationships with external parties including customers, suppliers, bankers and advisors
• Support the Managing Director by playing a key part in the expansion of the business through sound financial stewardship
• Overall responsibility for IT Network management, GDPR legislation, and the role of Data Protection Officer and procedures/protocol in the event of a data breach
• Key contact for external advisors including auditors, tax advisors, etc.
• Ownership of the Company Secretary duties
• Oversight of Company HR

A summary of the key candidate requirements are as follows:

Experience

• An experienced finance professional with a proven track record of success within a similar, challenging role
• A background working in a heavy engineering/manufacturing based business
• Experienced in working with a Board, building their confidence in the reporting, financial models and processes/controls
• Willing to take ownership for driving performance across the business, seeking involvement and engagement in all value drivers appropriately
• A strong relationship builder who will challenge and collaborate internally and externally
• Extremely strong commercial acumen with the skills to input positively into commercial contracts, customer/supplier relationships and any other drivers that can boost financial performance
• Have an empathy with other manufacturing business functions including sales, engineering, production, etc.
• Have an understanding of contract basics, and be familiar with international currency accounts and secure methods of payment (letters of credit for example), bank guarantees, etc.
• A good strategic thinker who can execute key decisions in a balanced way, effectively assessing the risk versus opportunity equation
• Experience of operating in a mid-sized, privately owned business would be useful but not essential
• Previous experience of working in an international business would be advantageous but not essential
• It is not necessary to have worked in an Employee Owned business before, nor even to have had exposure to EO, but applicants should have an interest in this business model and be able to embrace the philosophy that goes with it

Qualifications

• Degree qualified with a strong academic track record
• Professionally qualified accountant (CA, ACCA, ACMA,CIMA) with PQE consummate with a role at this level of responsibility

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledgeable on current accounting standards and any proposed changes that are applicable to the business
• Ability to prioritise and adapt to workload
• Strong analytical, organisational and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills with an ability to influence key members of senior management
• Ability to assess and drive business improvement projects
• Excellent IT skills, with a proven track record in optimising finance systems

Other Key Characteristics & Behaviours

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Brings energy and naturally motivates teams
• High levels of drive and personal commitment to achieve success
• Remains calm when under pressure
• Commercially curious and relishes challenges
• Results driven and respect for deadlines
• Anticipates stakeholder needs
• Ability to wear “multiple hats” when required in what is a broad and exciting role
• Not afraid to challenge the status quo and evaluate/present alternatives as required
• Strong team player

 For more information/review of full position profile please get in touch with our retained advisor John Ramsay- [email protected]