Finance Director
£70k to £100k (depending on experience)
Gravesend, Kent

OUR CLIENT

Goldhawk Associates are working in partnership with Leading Edge Labels, an award winning, highly successful and profitable international business, in the search for a commercially driven Finance Director. The business is privately owned between the two original founders and the management team and has an excellent reputation in the market. The business boasts an enviable blue chip client base, producing the packaging and labelling for world leading, instantly recognisable brands within the retail industry.

The business is a UK leader in their field and is dedicated to operating at the forefront of their industry, focussing on innovation, technology and consistently delivering on quality. Having recently invested heavily in their machinery and factories, they are committed to a strong and continued growth plan over the next 3-5 years, making it an exciting time to be a part of their continued success.

As part of this growth plan it is considered crucial to appoint a first-class Finance Director who will partner with the MD and board in the delivery of the company’s strategy and objectives. The Finance Director will have the opportunity to buy into the existing EMI Share option scheme and own approximately 1% of the equity.

THE ROLE

Reporting in to the MD, the Finance Director will act as a key member of the senior management team, overseeing the running of the finance department and providing input into the commercial running of the business.

Responsibilities to include:

• Taking an active role in the senior management team, contributing to business strategy and planning and providing financial direction
• Leading the budgeting process, working with Directors and managers on annual budgets and forecasts, challenging where appropriate
• Reporting on business performance and financials
• Provision of comprehensive and robust management information including key performance indicator’s, profitability analysis and margin analysis by customer and by product
• Overseeing the month end process, including management accounts, balance sheet and P&L
• Managing the yearend process, producing statutory accounts and acting as a key point of contact for external auditors
• Implementing, reviewing and improving financial controls and processes
• Key point of contact for the bank and other external bodies
• Identifying risks and opportunities, highlighting any potential concerns and seeking to make efficiencies continual improvements
• Cash flow management and cash flow forecasting, managing bank covenants
• Ensuring all regulatory reporting is completed in a timely and efficient manner
• Completion of tax, VAT and treasury duties

THE CANDIDATE

The Finance Director will be formally qualified (ACA or ACCA) and should possess the following skills, experience and personal qualities:

• A commercially focused individual with a proven track record of adding value and identifying efficiencies within an SME, ideally gained within the manufacturing, or engineering industries and certainly within a product based arena
• Current experience operating at Board level, with the ability to influence others, challenge the business and seek to make improvements and efficiencies whilst retaining a ‘hands on’ approach
• Cost focussed, with a proven ability to add value to the bottom line and to delve into the analysis to provide meaningful recommendations
• Excellent communication skills, a pro-active approach and a keen eye for detail
• An attitude that values the importance of getting out into a business and understanding the workings of that business and its staff
• Experience of business transformation and change management would be beneficial, as would previous experience within a PE backed business
• A passionate, motivated and resilient character with the ability to build strong relationships across a business with staff at varying levels

THE PACKAGE

Highly competitive basic salary of £70k to £100k (depending on experience) + bonus, pension, private health care, EMI share options

All third-party direct applications will be forwarded to Goldhawk Associates for consideration. Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications currently being received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.