Head of Financial Accounting

Job Posted: 24th February 2023

Role purpose

Being part of the Finance Team, the role of the Head of Management Accounting is responsible for strategically positioning the business to maximise long term profitable growth and sustainability by driving business performance through effective leadership of the Management Accounts function.

You will play a key role in leading the Finance Team’s “best in class” financial expertise, devising and reporting key metrics and providing commercial and operational insight to improve and drive operational performance. You will do so through empowering leadership and providing an environment that ensures we meet our manufacturing and sustainability ambitions.

 

Key accountabilities

• Ensure that the Management Accounting Team operates in accordance with any health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors
• Instil a culture of wellbeing, continuous improvement and responsiveness to internal and external customers to achieve an ethos which:

1. drives change and performance by influencing the senior management team through sound financial arguments
2. drives KPI’s to ensure that the Finance department and all projects are delivered on cost and on time to the highest quality standards
3. offers professional judgement on financial matters and advises on ways of improving business performance

• Work closely with the Head of Financial Accounting as required to ensure delivery of an accurate and fully reviewed company trial balance at month end in line with reporting timetable
• Preparation of monthly reporting presentation incorporating detailed analysis of business profit and cost drivers and performance
• Assist in the preparation and delivery of quarterly board updates
• Working across functions to ensure the Finance Team enhances overall profitability and net worth
• Implement and cascade control and reporting models through relevant parts of the business
• Make certain that variances to budget / forecast are explained which inform key outcomes and formulate business strategies
• Establish analysis of operational costs, revenue drivers and results, presented for non-financial managers
• Establish, regularly update and maintain a robust costing model for all production areas, including implementing and embedding a standard cost approach throughout the organization and monitoring variances to actual on at least a monthly basis
• Assist the Commercial and Sales teams in preparing costing projections for all customer quotes
• Play a key role in and enhance the forecasting process for monthly, quarterly and yearly financial results
• Provide in depth financial analysis to support CAPEX proposals
• Identify and resolving financial issues that pose a risk to financial performance
• Whilst living the Company values and promoting health, safety and wellbeing, provide clear vision and leadership to the Finance Team, as well as inspire, motivate and coach to help them develop new skills and support succession planning
• Promote employee engagement through timely two-way communications, particularly delivering on key actions identified during employee engagement surveys
• Recruitment and selection of staff when required with the support of HR
• The performance management of employees when required with the support of HR
• Be part of the strategic plan process and deliver on the longer-term product development goals
• Complete all required reporting within established timeframe, present information in a concise manner to various audiences

 

Experience Desired

• A strong technical accounting grounding (CA/ ACA / ACCA/ CIMA qualified or equivalent)
• Previous experience of leading a finance team in a senior financial role – preferably in manufacturing
• Demonstrable experience of improving control, process and rigor around financial and operational metrics and the ability to analyse and present accurate and concise management information
• Effected change within a business or business unit at either a strategic and/or tactical level
• A proven track record of driving organisational improvement to management information systems
• Demonstrable strategic and influencing skills at a senior level resulting in positive changes to existing practices
• Experience of managing a team with demonstrable leadership which ensures a culture of personal and professional growth and empowerment.
• Experience of developing and implementing meaningful KPI’s, targeting key areas of improvement, enabling the ability to celebrate success
• Commercial awareness

 

Key Competencies Required

Role Model

• Being an exemplary role model and taking the lead in promoting and living our values
• Establishes norms of behaviour (from the shadow he/she casts) for the team and takes appropriate actions if they are broken

Develop Yourself

• Invests in Personal Development
• Is self-aware and authentic
• Is open to feedback

Develop your People

• Develops, empowers and motivates teams and individuals
• Drives employee engagement

Provides Direction

• Translates strategy, creating a positive vision
• Inspires while managing change

Drives for results

• Delivers against targets in a way which is fast, agile and in line with our company values

Communicating

• Uses effective influencing strategies
• Clear, concise, consistent and relevant for individual situations. Understands, manages, and clarifies expectations
• Engages with key stakeholders prior to an important presentation/meeting to enlist their support

Problem solving

• Always seeking valid information in order to solve and eliminate root causes of problems/ issues.

Customer Service

• Concern for internal and external customers

Risk Management

• Ensuring that risk taking is balanced and in line with our company values

 

Key relationships

• CFO
• Finance Director
• Head of Financial Accounting
• Project and Systems Accountant
• Commercial Director
• Purchasing Manager
• Managing Director – Operations
• Managing Director – Sales & Marketing
• Engineering Director
• Innovation and Sustainability Director
• Technical Director