At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance strategy, optimise performance, and provide insights to drive business decisions.
- Company: Dynamic SME group with a focus on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with opportunities for professional growth and impact.
- Why this job: Be the financial backbone of a growing company and influence key business decisions.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with strong commercial acumen and leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 85000 £ per year.
An entrepreneurial SME group with a number of trading subsidiaries is looking for a Head of Finance to act as its most senior full-time finance professional and as a genuine commercial partner to the CEO and senior leadership team. This is not a reporting role with some partnering attached. The group already has the disciplines in place; what it wants is someone who can tell it what the numbers mean, why they matter and what should happen next. You will sit with market and brand leaders, challenge their plans, and shape decisions on pricing, investment and where the group puts its money.
Reporting to the CEO and attending Board meetings, you will make the group legible through three aligned lenses: the consolidated group, performance by market, and performance by brand or product. Making those views coherent, reconcilable and commercially meaningful is how leadership comes to understand where value is actually created. A part-time CFO provides governance oversight, challenge and mentoring, giving you the autonomy of the top finance seat with experienced support behind it.
What you'll be doing
- Commercial partnership and decision support
- Act as trusted commercial partner to the CEO and senior leadership team
- Partner with P&L owners, market leads and brand leads on planning, forecasting and performance optimisation
- Provide the 'so what' — translating performance into decisions that improve margin, cost efficiency and capital deployment
- Constructively challenge proposals, business cases and performance, actively driving profitability and returns rather than reporting on them
- Support strategic planning and investment decisions with robust financial analysis
- Balance analytical rigour with pragmatism and commercial judgement, keeping a group-first perspective while supporting individual leaders
- Profitability analysis and performance insight
- Own the analysis that shows how profit is generated: margin drivers, cost structures and contribution across the group
- Develop reporting that clearly articulates profitability at group level, by market, and by brand or product
- Use profitability analysis to inform pricing, investment, resource allocation and growth decisions
- Present consolidated results to the Board alongside clear performance analysis by market and by brand or product
- Ensure every performance view reconciles back to statutory and management accounts, so the insight carries credibility
- Planning and forecasting
- Lead group-wide budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management
- Build market and product performance into forecasts and scenario modelling
- Improve forecasting accuracy through disciplined assumptions, data gathering and performance tracking
- Reporting, control and governance
- Ensure a single version of financial truth across all entities, markets and brands
- Lead preparation of group statutory accounts, including consolidation of the subsidiaries
- Produce high-quality consolidated management accounts, KPIs and Board packs
- Maintain consistent accounting policies, controls and disciplines across the group
- Manage the group audit process and the relationship with external auditors
- Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, company law and listed company reporting requirements
- Systems, team and capability
- Act as business owner for core finance systems, ensuring they support multi-dimensional reporting and are fit for a listed environment
- Manage external systems providers and key suppliers, holding them to account on delivery, cost and service
- Lead, support and develop the group finance team, building capability to move beyond reporting into insight and commercial analysis
- Ensure resilience, continuity and succession within the function
About you
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Demonstrable commercial acumen, with a track record of turning numbers into insight and action that changed a decision
- Proven ability to design and deliver meaningful management and profitability reporting at Board level
- Confidence engaging with Boards, senior leaders and non-finance stakeholders, including the credibility to challenge them
- Proven experience in group reporting and consolidation
- Experience managing audits, external advisers and finance systems in a regulated, listed or similarly governed environment
- Advanced Excel, and experience working in a digital, paperless environment
- Experience leading and developing a small finance team
Head of Finance in Aylesford employer: Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers
Join a leading international manufacturing organisation in Dartford, where you will thrive in a people-first culture that prioritises employee well-being and development. As a Financial Controller, you will benefit from an outstanding salary and benefits package, including flexible hybrid working arrangements, generous holiday allowance, and a strong pension scheme, all while playing a pivotal role in driving financial excellence and transformation within a dynamic team. This is an exceptional opportunity for growth and collaboration in a fast-paced environment that values accountability and continuous improvement.
Contact Details:
Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance in Aylesford
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
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Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance in Aylesford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited Careers employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
