James Ray Recruitment are working with a firm seeking a hands-on Head of Finance. The role will oversee financial planning, reporting and governance across the group, ensuring growth is properly funded, cashflowed and managed within an agreed level of risk. Working proactively with the owner and Managing Director, Board and wider leadership team, the Head of Finance will provide commercially focused insight, constructive challenge and clear recommendations on major business and shareholder-level decisions, while strengthening financial governance, optimising cash and working capital, and building a high-performing, forward-looking finance function.
Qualifications
Essential
- AAT qualified with significant experience, or
- ACCA, CIMA or ACA qualified/part-qualified
Essential Requirements
- Previous experience as a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or Senior Management Accountant.
- Significant senior finance experience within a project-led, engineering, technical services, manufacturing or similarly operational business
- Demonstrable experience of influencing strategic and commercial decisions at Board or senior leadership level.
- Strong track record in group reporting, consolidated forecasting, cashflow, working capital, intercompany controls, financial governance and risk management.
- Experience of improving profitability and business performance through high-quality analysis, challenge and close partnership with commercial and operational teams.
- Proven ability to lead and develop a finance team and to improve systems, processes and management information.
- Proven experience managing the full accounts payable and accounts receivable function.
- Experience in credit control and debtor management, with a track record of reducing aged debt.
- Knowledge of VAT, HMRC compliance, statutory reporting and audit preparation.
- Experience using Sage accounting software (ideally Sage 50) and the ability to quickly adapt to new finance systems.
- Experience improving financial processes and implementing effective financial controls.
- Previous experience managing, mentoring or developing finance team members.
Desirable Requirements
- Experience within the construction, engineering, facilities management or project-based sectors.
- Knowledge of the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).
- Experience managing retentions and applications for payment.
- Understanding of job costing and project accounting.
- Experience working with invoice finance providers, such as Bibby Financial Services.
- Familiarity with credit risk platforms, including Creditsafe, Coface or similar systems.
- Experience working across multiple companies or entities within a group structure.
Technical Skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP and financial modelling.
- Proficient in Sage accounting software.
- Strong financial reporting and analysis capabilities.
- Cashflow forecasting and management.
- Payroll oversight and financial governance.
- Balance sheet reconciliations.
- Financial controls, audit trails and compliance.
- Budgeting, forecasting and variance reporting.
- VAT and tax compliance.
- Data analysis, accuracy and continuous process improvement.
Personal Attributes
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Commercially minded, with the ability to identify financial risks and opportunities.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Ability to prioritise a demanding workload and meet multiple deadlines.
- Confident communicator, capable of presenting financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
- High levels of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Strong leadership, coaching and mentoring abilities.
- Customer-focused approach when dealing with suppliers, clients and internal stakeholders.
- Proactive mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
INDL
Pay: £50,000.00-£70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
