Head of Finance

Head of Finance – A senior role with real influence

Wellington; Office-based

40 hours per week; Monday to Friday; Permanent

£50,000 to £60,000 per annum, depending on experience

In this role you will lead the finance function and work closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team, providing the financial insight, commercial guidance and constructive challenge needed to support profitable growth, strong cash generation and better decision-making.

Our client is a practical, forward-thinking company that designs, programs and builds much of its own equipment internally, takes pride in doing things properly and moves quickly when good ideas emerge. It is also a stable, down-to-earth business where people stay, with many team members having been with the company for more than five years.

The role will suit a commercially minded finance leader who can see the wider business picture while remaining comfortable with the detail, explaining not just what the figures are, but what they mean, what needs attention and where the opportunities lie.

Why you’ll want to join:

• A senior role with direct access to the Board of Directors.
• Genuine influence over business planning, investment and commercial decisions.
• Responsibility for leading and developing the full finance function.
• The opportunity to improve systems, reporting and financial processes.
• A growing, established business with a stable and experienced team.
• The freedom to challenge existing assumptions and introduce better ways of working.
• 22 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional time off over Christmas.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Death in Service cover of four times salary.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will take responsibility for the company’s financial management, reporting, controls and commercial analysis, while acting as a trusted business partner to the Board of Directors.

Your role will include:

• Preparing accurate and timely monthly management accounts in collaboration with the Finance Manager.
• Leading the annual budgeting and forecasting process.
• Managing cash flow, liquidity and working capital.
• Overseeing debtor management and cash collection.
• Maintaining strong balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls.
• Preparing and overseeing statutory accounts, audits and external reporting.
• Ensuring compliance with VAT, corporation tax and HMRC requirements.
• Providing clear financial reporting and insight to the leadership team.
• Challenging assumptions and identifying financial risks and opportunities.
• Supporting strategic planning, growth initiatives and investment decisions.
• Providing commercial analysis to improve profitability and business performance.
• Supporting pricing decisions, contract reviews and financial modelling.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
• Developing useful financial KPIs and performance measures.
• Improving accounting systems, reporting processes and internal controls.
• Identifying opportunities for automation and more efficient ways of working.
• Liaising with auditors, banks, advisers and other external stakeholders.
• Leading, mentoring and developing the finance team.

Because the role combines strategic responsibility with hands-on financial leadership, it will suit someone who is equally comfortable discussing business performance with the Board of Directors and getting into the detail when something in the figures does not look right.

What You’ll Bring

You will need to be a qualified Accountant, holding an ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent recognised qualification, with previous experience in a senior finance leadership role.

You should also bring:

• Strong management accounting, budgeting and forecasting experience.
• Proven experience managing cash flow, liquidity and working capital.
• A strong understanding of financial control, governance and compliance.
• Experience managing statutory accounts and external audits.
• Excellent financial reporting, modelling and analytical skills.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence using financial systems.
• Strong commercial judgement and business-partnering ability.
• The confidence to challenge senior colleagues constructively.
• The ability to turn financial information into clear and practical recommendations.
• Experience leading, supporting and developing a finance team.
• The ability to build effective working relationships across the business.
• A willingness to remain involved in the operational detail when needed.

Experience within a growing SME would be particularly valuable. In addition to leading the finance function, you will help shape the continued development of our client’s Simpro ERP platform, driving process improvements, automation, and enhanced management reporting. Previous experience supporting acquisitions, integration projects, system improvements, or periods of significant business growth would be a distinct advantage.

This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants more than responsibility for the finance department alone. With the opportunity to influence the wider business, improve how financial information is used and help make well-informed decisions as it grows.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a short online questionnaire which takes approximately 10 minutes. This helps both you and our client understand whether the role, working style and requirements are likely to be a strong mutual fit.