Finance Director in Aylesbury

Butler Rose is delighted to be partnering exclusively with a successful, privately owned SME group to recruit a Finance Director at an exciting point in its development. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded, hands-on finance leader who enjoys working closely with the business and wants to have a genuine influence over its future direction. The group comprises two established operating businesses with combined revenues in excess of £10m and approximately 80 employees. Operating across specialist technology, manufacturing and service-led markets, the businesses have continued to grow and evolve over recent years and are now entering another important phase of their development. With further growth firmly on the agenda, the business is looking to appoint an FD who can not only provide strong financial leadership, but also work alongside the Managing Director and ownership team to help shape the next stage of the groups journey.

More about the opportunity…

• This is very much a hands-on SME Finance Director role.
• You will have overall responsibility for the finance function across the group, supported by an established team, but the position goes considerably further than traditional financial reporting.
• You will act as a trusted commercial partner to the Managing Director and wider leadership team, providing insight, challenge and support around both day-to-day performance and longer-term strategic decisions.

Responsibilities will include:

• Full oversight of the finance function across multiple group entities
• Monthly management reporting and performance analysis
• Annual statutory accounts and management of the audit process
• Budgeting, forecasting and cashflow management
• Treasury and working capital
• Payroll, VAT and financial controls
• Development of management information and commercial reporting
• Supporting and developing the existing finance team
• Driving improvements across finance systems, processes and ERP
• Capital expenditure appraisal and post-investment reviews
• Providing commercial insight to support growth and business development
• Working closely with operational and commercial teams across the group
• Importantly, the successful individual will also have exposure to wider strategic projects, which could include acquisitions, investment opportunities, business partnerships and new growth initiatives.

How the business has developed…

• The group has developed considerably in recent years, with both operating businesses continuing to grow and one area experiencing particularly strong sales development.
• Alongside organic growth, the business continues to invest in its products, systems and infrastructure and sees significant opportunity to develop its position within its specialist markets.
• The next Finance Director will therefore join at an interesting point, the foundations are firmly established, but there remains considerable opportunity to professionalise, improve and scale the business further.
• For the right individual, this provides the opportunity to become an integral part of the senior leadership team and have a tangible impact on how the organisation develops over the coming years.

The Person

• We are looking for a qualified accountant - ACA, ACCA or CIMA - who combines strong technical capability with a pragmatic and commercial approach.
• You are likely to have operated as a Finance Director, Head of Finance or senior Financial Controller within an SME environment and be comfortable being both strategic and hands-on.
• Experience within manufacturing, engineering, technology or another product-led environment would be particularly advantageous.

You should also be able to demonstrate:

• Strong commercial and business partnering capability
• Experience leading a small finance function
• Excellent budgeting, forecasting and cashflow experience
• Strong systems knowledge, ideally including ERP implementation or development
• The ability to improve reporting, controls and processes
• Confidence working directly with an MD/owner and senior stakeholders
• A genuine interest in understanding how the wider business operates
• An energetic, adaptable and collaborative leadership style

This is an excellent opportunity for an established Finance Director or an ambitious senior Financial Controller/Head of Finance looking to take the next step into a broad FD position where they can genuinely influence the future of an organisation.

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact Sam Powell at Butler Rose.

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Butler Rose is committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer.

Butler Rose Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.