Finance Director

Finance Director 

Division of a Multi-Site Service Business (PE-backed)

c.£100-110k + Car Allowance + Bonus (20%) + LTIPs + Benefits 

Our client is a major independent and fast growing PE-backed group providing specialist outsourced services in partnership with to the public sector through multi-site operations. With solid line reporting to the Divisional FD responsible for an overall division with £360m t/o (making up c.50% of overall Group revenue and operating through over 150 sites), a Finance Director is sought for one of the Division’s Service Lines, which business accounts for c.£145m of overall divisional revenue, and operates contracts geographically spread across England.

You will be the Finance Business Partner (with dotted line responsibility) to the Service Line MD, providing support to key business decisions and engaging with key internal and external stakeholders. You will be responsible for leading and developing a team of 16 staff comprising Regional Finance Managers, a Commercial Finance Manager and an FP&A team. As a key member of the Senior Finance leadership team, your overall aim is to provide finance leadership to operating units, driving enhanced business performance and decision making supported by the proactive utilisation of financial information and business analysis and the successful implementation of initiatives to continue to grow the business, both organically and by acquisition.  

Key responsibilities of the Finance Director role will include: production of the monthly reporting pack for the Service Line; ensuring the operation of sound financial processes and controls across all operating units; actively managing forward looking assessment of key risks and opportunities; leading the strategic planning, annual budgeting and in-year forecasting process for all operating units; owning the financial assessment of all new business improvement or business development opportunities in the Service Line. The role is not responsible for any transactional accounting or financial reporting/ consolidation activity as that is handled centrally.

You will be a qualified accountant (ideally a graduate) having at least around 10 years’ PQE, possessing excellent analytical and financial modelling skills. With at least 3-4+ years’ experience at a similar or senior finance manager level, strong commercial experience and the ability to influence operations of the business and external stakeholders, you will have a proven track record of implementing change and experience of leading and developing professional teams. You will have demonstrable commercial negotiation skills and the ability to communicate complex messages clearly at all levels of the organisation. Highly motivated and a driven individual, you will have the vision and energy to drive through change programmes to instil greater levels of standardisation (eg. developing/implementing more insightful KPIs, etc) and be able to lead a geographically dispersed team. Whilst someone who enjoys the “helicopter view”, you will also be able to know when to roll your sleeves up and get into the detail.

This Finance Director role could, for example possibly suit a bright Financial Controller with strong experience gained in a highly disciplined environment seeking to broaden and widen their experience more towards Financial Planning & Analysis. It is more about the person and their experience. 

You will ideally be based at the Divisional Thames Valley HQ (close to M4), but required to travel to other sites within the Service Line according to demands of the business. However, there is flexibility on location - from a practical view,  probably only 2 days a week would need to be spent at the HQ; with 2 days a week likely to be spent visiting other sites or in London; and one day a week possibly working from home.

There could well be an attractive LTIP or equity package available (to be confirmed) for the right candidate which would offer significant upside upon exit of PE investors, anticipated within the next 2-3 years.

To be considered for this Finance Director role please click apply below.