Head of Finance (Financial Controller) - 12 month contract in Ilminster

About Us

G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications. Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognised for the breadth of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fibre optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defence industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years. Our success is built on innovation, precision, and the talent of our people. We are committed to developing capability at every stage of a career, from apprenticeships and graduate pathways through to leadership development.

Role

Reporting to the Vice President of Finance, for our Optical Systems Division, the role holder will work with the Ilminster site management team to ensure the site achieves its financial budgets, forecast and strategic plan growth targets.

Responsibilities – Ilminster Site

• Provide timely, accurate and insightful aggregated financial reporting to the Ilminster site management team to ensure financial budgets, forecasts are achieved or exceeded.
• Oversee the development of the site’s budget, forecasts and financial strategic plans.
• Ensure G&H finance policies and controls are fully implemented in the Ilminster site.
• Act as a finance business partner to the ILM site leadership team ensuring that the financial consequences of alternative decisions are accurately assessed and presented.
• Ensure supporting business cases are properly prepared to support business decision making e.g. investment decisions, alternative supplier sourcing etc.
• Provide financial input and approval for quotes and proposals submitted to customers, through the Gate Review process.
• Ensure the complete and accurate financial accounting and reporting of the ILM site.
• Ensure standard costs are properly maintained and analysed, and corrective actions are proposed for variances identified.
• Ensure financial systems are in place to allow the Ilminster site to comply with customer mandated financial reporting (e.g. UK Govt, ESA).
• Liaise with the Group’s external auditors to provide requested information and explanations to support a smooth and efficient audit of the site.
• Ensure foreign currency exposures are identified and mitigated.
• Submit tax packs for the site to allow the calculation of the Group’s UK tax liabilities.
• Responsible for the long-term contract accounting in compliance with IFRS 15, including revenue recognition and cost allocation.
• Work closely with engineers and project managers in the St Asaph Innovation Hub, as well as purchasing and operations teams in Ilminster, to compile accurate Estimates at Completion (EAC) for ongoing contracts.
• Review overall contract margins and assess the financial performance of long-term projects.
• Prepare and maintain accurate forecast revenue recognition figures for each project.
• Assess research and development activities undertaken to determine which costs meet the criteria for capitalisation under IAS38.
• Together with Ilminster Site management develop and implement processes and procedures to ensure the efficient, profitable operation of the site’s manufacturing activities.
• Provide leadership and management for the Ilminster Site Financial Controller.

Responsibilities – G&H Finance Team Member

• As requested Group Finance provide ad hoc support and share expertise as part of Group Finance projects.
• Providing support and advice to other G&H sites on how best to use the Syspro systems.
• Supporting the annual reviews of other sites adherence to the G&H financial controls framework.
• Supporting project to improve the efficient operation of Finance function activities.

Qualifications And Experience

• Qualified Accountant (UK CIMA or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in a finance role with leadership responsibility and acting as a finance business partner to non-finance colleagues.
• Strong understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards
• Knowledge of UK direct and indirect tax.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment.
• In depth knowledge and experience of operating ERP systems (e.g. Syspro) and standard costing systems.

Personal Attributes

• Communication skills
• Leadership
• Delivering Results
• Quality and Accuracy
• Accountability

G&H Benefits

• Includes participation in competitive Management Incentive Plans
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• 6% employer pension contribution
• Private Health Insurance offered
• Health Cash Plan

Notes: This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this job description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this job description, employees are expected to undertake any and all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their line manager.

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunity or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national laws under which the Company operates.

Potential candidates should be aware that many of the employment roles at Gooch & Housego are subject to government security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities that you may have previously held and your place of birth, could restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation.

All UK applicants must, as a minimum, be able to successfully complete security vetting to the UK government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard, which includes a criminal record check being performed. Many roles may also require higher levels of security vetting to be completed, where applicants must typically have been continuously resident within the UK for the past five to ten years.