Background to the opportunity

The company is a medium sized private equity backed business based in West Lothian. The Head of Finance will form part of the senior management team. Reporting into the CEO, and with a small finance team to manage, there is an opportunity for an experienced and commercially minded financial controller to develop and make the step up to Finance Director in the coming years.

Over the last 2 years, effective systems, processes and controls have been put in place which have mitigated risks and provided a sound platform to make financial decisions. The Head of Finance will manage a team of 3 transactional finance staff who know their duties and the business very well. 

The Head of Finance position is a key role within the business, as it continues on its journey towards delivering the success its backers are looking to achieve. The successful candidate will ensure they develop an understanding of the key drivers of the business and will be in regular communication with the CEO to share business strategy and goals, create alignment and reinforce commitment.

This represents an excellent opportunity for a motivated finance professional who is able to support a CEO and continue to develop financial processes as the company grows.

Position Overview

The Head of Finance is a vital role in the business, developing and leading the finance function of the business.  The post-holder will form part of the Senior Leadership Team, along with the COO, Head of Sales and Operations Director. The Head of Finance will also present to the board on a monthly basis. They will have an opportunity to directly influence budgeting, planning and strategy processes. Main duties and responsibilities will involve:

Financial Reporting & Accounting

• Ensuring the timely preparation of monthly management accounts
• Preparation of the annual budget, monitoring performance against budget and quarterly review/revisions to the forecast
• Preparing a review of monthly MI and explaining financial results and variances to budget the executive management team
• Day to day cash management and forecasting
• Managing use/utilisation of invoice financing and trade finance facilities
• Maintaining and analysing weekly/monthly KPI’s
• Ad hoc reporting and special projects for the executive management team
• Preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns

Stakeholder Engagement

• Leading and developing the finance team to maximise individual, team and organisational effectiveness
• Regular communication to generate engagement, to share business strategy and goals, create alignment and reinforce commitment
• Delivering effective feedback to motivate better performance and facilitate professional growth

The business is looking to appoint a proactive and experienced accountant to support the CEO, developing robust financial processes and managing day to day finance matters. The post-holder must be able to work closely with the leadership team to challenge and drive business performance and strategic plans.

The Individual

The Head of Finance position requires an individual with a hands-on approach. This individual will need to take ownership of management accounts production, whilst having the knowledge and gravitas to contribute towards business development plans. The appointed candidate will thrive on variety, possess a team-oriented attitude and be comfortable being involved in whatever needs done to help the business deliver its goals.

It is crucial that the post-holder possesses strong relationship building skills. The Head of Finance will present to the Board of Directors on a monthly basis, including a team member of the private equity backers and therefore it is imperative that they can impart the monthly financials with confidence, having developed a strong understanding of the business.

Below is a brief breakdown of key candidate requirements for the role:

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent accountancy qualification
• Minimum 3-years’ experience at finance manager/financial controller level
• Previously managed relationships with invoice finance and trade finance partners
• Experience in financial reporting and analysis, tracking and managing costs against a budget, and tracking P&L results
• Detailed knowledge of VAT legislation, including imports, exports and Domestic Reverse Charge for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
• Experience in businesses importing goods and services (preferable)
• People management experience (preferable)
• Commercial awareness and business understanding
• Good communication and presentation skills

Basic Salary:                    £60,000 - £65,000 per annum, depending on experience

Company Pension:           Auto enrolment: employer contribution 4%, employee contribution 5%

Holiday Entitlement:        22 days plus bank holidays, increasing by a day a year after two years service to a maximum of 25 days

Additional Benefits:          Paid professional membership fees

Working Hours:                8.30-17.00